The Gravekeeper Series is really growing in strength, book #3 The Twisted dead is by far the best of the lot. This is perfectly good as a standalone as the author touches upon the main events of the past 2 books but if you want to understand Keira, her arrival in Blighty, and the warm and true friendship she shares with mason and Zoe then go ahead and download the previous 2 books from Kindle Unlimited.

I have read quite a few of the author’s books and mostly agree that her books are not always scare the living daylights of anyone kind but can be classified as mild horror. In the Gravekeeper series, she has layered the story with multiple plotlines, involving Keira’s amnesia about her past, Mason’s reluctance in revealing his reasons for quitting med school, Keira’s psychic ability in seeing ghosts and the shadowy organization that seems to be hell-bent on killing Keira.

The Twisted Dead opens up all these plot points and enhances them on a larger scale with the readers getting a clear picture about why Keira is being targeted, The reason behind Mason’s med school drama, the ghosts not one but countless number of them in Dane Crispin’s house, the serial killer lurking amongst them, and the witchy cat called Daisy are all touched upon brilliantly by the author.

Keira is an excellent character so sure of her abilities and her inherent goodness in wanting to help the dead makes you root for her, Mason once again remains strong and capable and is the rock that holds Keira steady but if I would choose one character that I want to hold on and cuddle up to, it would be the crazy and quirky and paranoid Zoe. Her cracker one liners in the story are some of the best the author comes up with and I simply loved every scene in the story. The events in Keira’s life seem to be happening one after another without much gap in between but now I want to know about Keira and her past and her witchy powers.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Poisoned Pen Press, and the author Darcy Coates for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

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The Twisted Dead | Darcy Coates
Gravekeeper #3
4 ⭐️

Kiera and her friends are on a mission to help the town recluse Dane, the last in his family line who is being haunted by the ghosts of his prolific family. As the third book in the series, The Twisted Dead also continues to unravel Kiera's past while she struggles with amnesia.

I did not read the first two books in this series as didn't know it was a series when I saw this on NetGalley, but I will be going back to read them as soon as possible.

This was a fun read and I would consider it a cozy and comfortable horror mystery. It was fast paced, and even without the backstory I could follow along pretty easily.

Read this if you like:
- Cozy Horror
- Shorter books in a larger series
- Protagonist with psychic abilities

Can't wait for the next one!

I requested this book without realizing that it was part of a series (I thought Darcy Coates only wrote stand-alone novels). I had to read the first two books before I could get to this one. The series isn’t what I expected but it’s so good! In book number 3 Keira is beginning to put some things from her past life together. She also feels like she has a home and true friends for the first time in her life. Dane Crispin, the town recluse, has heard a rumor that Keira can talk to ghosts. He requests her company for dinner, along with Mason and Zoe, because he thinks his house is full of ghosts! Can Keira help him with his ghost problem? While she is trying to find a solution to Dane’s problem, Mason reveals that he has one of his own. Keira will do anything to help Mason, even drive 8 hours to where he used to go to medical school. Will Mason finally reveal the reason why left medical school? Somewhere along the way Artec finds her again. Why are they trying so hard to get rid of her? Keira will soon find out as more memories begin to surface.

The Twisted Dead by Darcy Coates is book three in the Gravekeeper series, and while I had every intention of reading the first two before this one I just didn’t get to it with all the other books on my TBR. Because of that I can confidently say that this book can be read without having read the first two, but as with any series it’s always more enjoyable to read them in order so you can get the inside jokes and join along in the characters' growth.

The Twisted Dead is what I consider a cozy paranormal read. While the book is filled with the supernatural you won’t be afraid to turn the lights off if you stay up reading this one past your bedtime.

Coates’ characters are very well developed, and she has a great mix of humor and determination in them. I really enjoyed the gothic vibe with the mansion owner and Harry. Zoe’s sense of self was fun, no running away from anything with her need to experience all of life. And it’s always a good thing to have a level headed and medically inclined person in the group, like Mason. Keira is still struggling with her amnesia, but the way she is slowly remembering things is a great way to keep the mystery going at a good pace. And, of course, I loved Daisy, the (perhaps) cat familiar.

I’m looking forward to seeing how Keira and the gang deal with the evil corporation and what other small mysteries they solve along the way.

Another great instalment in the GraveKeeper series. I am loving this series the more it goes on. The characters are loveable with so much personality and I just want to be their friend.
This book you got more insight into Keira’s past before she lost her memory and I just can’t wait to read the next book.

I didn't realize this was the third book in a series when I requested it, but the book gives a nice little summary to catch the reader up. I've seen Darcy's books described as "cozy horror" and I'm inclined to agree. The book was suspenseful, spooky and fun. I've only read one of her books before this but I will read more. I would love to read the next book in the series, and I might read the previous two. The only thing that really bothered me was some of the dialogue. It could be super cheesy, but I think that's intentional so it's just a matter of preference

I absolutely love this series. At the end of every book I'm wishing for more! Keira, Mason, and Zoe are such a good group. Now that I have a real glimpse into Keira's past I'm dying to know how she will deal with Artec. I'm not a story regurgitator, so please believe The Twisted Dead and its predecessors are fun, reads full of both intrigue and a sly sense of humor. Can't wait for the next book!

This is the third book in the Graveyard Book series, and it is absolutely fabulous!

Keira, Mason and Zoe are back and this time they are in more danger than ever before. The story begins with Keira cleaning up the cottage she lives in after it was set on fire as a threat by a local. Shortly after, all three of them receive a letter from a local recluse, Dane Crispin. His family founded the town, and he is the last remaining relative. They decide to go because no one has been in his house in decades and he's very reclusive, often wandering at night through the town.

When they arrive, Dane asks Keira for a favor. It seems a local boy who has befriended Dane, has told him that Keira has experience with ghosts. Dane feels his house is haunted and when Keira uses her second sight what she sees is very disturbing. The ghosts from his family are feeding on him, feeding on his energy. Keira tries to banish them only to find she can't and she's not sure exactly how to go about doing it. But she's not willing to give up just yet.

Mason also has a favor for her. He reveals the reason he left the university he was at. He was too focused on being the best and when he heard a scream on the campus he was on, he ignored it and it ended up being one of the most liked students on the campus being murdered. He wants Keira to go to the campus and see if his spirit is still there. They head off to the campus and Keira uses her second sight and finds that while his spirit is not there, she was able to feel the area and see through a vision who killed him. They then head off to the cemetery where he is buried to see if his spirit is there.

Once they arrive at the cemetery, Keira is immediately on high alert as the symbol on the gates leading to the cemetery is the exact symbol of the people that are hunting her. What she discovers at the cemetery is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. She also begins to discover part of her past and some of her amnesia is clearing. She does however gather enough energy from the cemetery to defeat the ghosts at Dane house.

I think that is all I am going to reveal for this review. Suffice it to say, this series is a must read if you love a good paranormal mystery. I really like the slow reveal of why Keira has amnesia, why she's being hunted and why she has this gift. This book does not wrap up all the questions, but it does a good job of starting to. The characters continue to develop and I'm happy to see Harry continuing to make an appearance and hopefully Dane will now that Keira has helped him with his ghost problem. Overall, this is one book that I literally could not put down, a real page turner with a lot of suspense mixed in, I received this book free from Netgalley for an honest review.

Darcy Coates strikes again (in a good way, as usual). When I received The Twisted Dead as an ARC from Netgalley, I didn’t know it was 3rd in the Gravekeeper series. Luckily, I was still able to understand/enjoy it without having read the first two books. The story follows Keira — who can see/interact with ghosts — and her two best friends as they try to help Dane, the reclusive owner of their town’s largest estate, tackle a very prickly ghost problem. The story, which I would classify as “light horror,” has plenty of other sub-plots and threads running through it, which were equally as interesting, and I think we’ll get more on those in the next book in the series. I did feel that the dialogue, specifically from Keira’s friend Zoe, felt a bit forced and juvenile. I also wished that I learned more about the characters, but I understand this may have been included in the first two books, which I haven’t read. All in all, The Twisted Dead was an easy, engaging read and I’ll be looking out for the next book in the series.

So I’ll preface this by saying I did not realize this was the 3rd book in a series. I liked the friendship between Zoe, Mason and Keira. This book felt YA at times and although it was less than 300 pages I also felt it dragged at times. I loved the humorous moments and how Mason and Zoe would do anything for Keira. I may have needed to read the first two books to really understand what was going on as there is a lot of reference to them in this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for access to this digital ARC.

The Twisted Dead
(Gravekeeper #3)
By: Darcy Coates

eARC & Book Review
Pub Date: February 7, 2023

In the 3rd installment in the Gravekeeper series, Keira is back and having to put her *gift* to work once again!

After receiving an invitation to dinner at Dane Crispin’s crumbling estate, she is tasked with a new job: helping Dane free himself of the ghosts that live throughout the estate. Not to mention, his mansion is full of eerie history and restless spirits.

Once again, Darcy Coates has sucked me in and written a book that I just can’t put down! His books are equal parts cozy and creepy, jam packed full of ghosts and her awesome friends — Zoe and Mason. I love how her books are almost “lighter” than your typical horror/mystery, but still full of excitement. I also love how there’s clearly some slow-burn romance happening between Keira and Mason, but it doesn’t take over the plot at all! She’s still clearly the main character and it is just a subplot

I am looking forward to the next installment in this series!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC for review.



This is the 3rd installment of The Gravekeeper series. We are thrust back into the world of Keira, Mason, and Zoe as they work to exterminate more devious ghosts.



I absolutely love Darcy Coates’s books. She is like a mistress of wholesome horror. This book won’t make you want to sleep with the lights on but it will give you enough of the paranormal and loyalty of friends to keep coming back for the next installment.

Keira can see ghosts. She can help them cross over. Usually.
She has been invited to the Crispin Manor, home of the reclusive Dane Crispin. Even though he tried to kill her, she is curious to see what he wants.

Once again, I tried a book outside my comfort zone and again it wasn't for me. The writing was fine. I can see how it would appeal to people that like a contemporary setting. Unfortunately, I am not in that group.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Darcy Coates for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Twisted Dead coming out February 7, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Keira just wants her life to get back to normal. But things are never normal when your ghost seeing ability gets you the job of groundskeeper in a small town’s cemetery.

Dane Crispin lives in a crumbling ancestral estate. When Keira receives an offer to come to dinner with him, she knows she can’t refuse. Dane is the last of the Crispin family and he’s a recluse. Keira met him once…on the night he tried to murder her. 

The mansion hides a history that is both complicated and bloody. Restless spirits lurk in the shadows of its walls. Keira senses the ghosts the moment she enters through its door. And Dane wants to ask for her help.

I love Darcy Coates’ writing! I know she writes a lot of horror, but ghost stories just feel like cozy mysteries to me. I have the first two books, but I haven’t read them yet. I felt like they could be read out of order. I’ve been watching Ghost Whisperer, so this book felt a lot like that. I loved it! I enjoyed that Keira had friends who believed her and helped her solve ghost mysteries.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys haunted house and ghost stories!

In the third installment of The Gravekeeper’s Series, Keira is content with the quiet town of Blighty, her friends and her job assisting spirits in the cemetery. When Dane Crispin invites her to his manor, she knows she can’t say no, even though he previously tried to kill her.

I think this was the best book of this series yet! The action starts from the beginning and doesn’t let up as Keira attempts to help Dane and get Mason some closure as well. In doing so, she gets a few glimpses at what her last may have been like. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the playful friendship between Keira, Mason and Zoe. This book seemed to lay the groundwork for a fourth installment as well and I can’t wait to see what is next!

“The Twisted Dead” releases February 7th! Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Darcy Coates for the ARC! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly.

Poor Kiera. Her blood turned to ice so many times that I thought she'd die of hypothermia. But then, she felt a raging inferno inside her. Remember those old commercials for Corningware where one half of the dish was imbedded in ice while the other half was over a flame? That's how I felt about poor Kiera.

First, they go to the home of the town's hermit. He's plagued by ghosts who think he's an "all you can eat buffet." Distracted by more ghosts, Kiera and her two friends for most of the book, leaving poor Dane as the first, second, and third course, plus dessert for some hungry hungry spirits.

There's some good writing. When the friends creep through the crawl space of a motel, I felt claustrophobic. That's a good sign when the writer makes the reader feel like they're in the novel, though I don't like feeling like ghosts are noshing on me because that would be icky.

Lots of fun, lots of adventure, and lots and lots of ghosts and stabby parts. Thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen for allowing me to read and review The Twisted Dead and for making me feel claustrophobic and dusty.

I was really hoping for more closure with this book, but perhaps there will be another one! I enjoyed reuniting with the characters and seeing what type of trouble they got themselves into this time. This is a good paranormal mystery series for young adults.

Oh my gosh. This story.

Ok, I will be honest in that I did not realize that this was book 3 in the series, but the details in the beginning kind of explain some of what happened before so I wasn't too terribly lost.

Just slight spoilers ahead

So in here we have Keira who can apparently see ghosts. Which is cool. She is living in a tent at the beginning because someone burned down the cottage she was living in. One morning she receives a message from the rich recluse of the town that shot at her in a previous story but she and her friends are relatively sure that he didn't know who she was when shooting. Thus starts the main story of the book as she ends up finding out that it has to do with ghosts and she has the power to send them on.

I really liked this and the spookiness of the story, the ghost and Dane at the end kind of broke my heart.

I will be reading the first two books so I can catch up on how we ended up here.

While this book is considered a standalone, it is also book 3 in a series. There is some background information in the storyline to have you up to speed on what is going on in the main character's life, but yet I still feel as if I would be more prepared to read this one had I read the two books that proceed this title. I have not, and as such, I did think there was a lot I was trying to catch up on in the beginning. The first few chapters talked about things that happened in previous stories. I would recommend reading the first 2 books prior to this. I, myself, will now be going back to read all three in order to fully be able to grasp all there is to these novels. I think not doing so would be a huge disservice to a talented author.

The main character can see ghosts/spirits- I was not expecting a paranormal aspect, but I enjoy that. I think it is a really cool concept that she can communicate with them! She gets an invitation to this haunted manor, and while she and her friends are nervous to accept the invite, they do and go, and are surprised when the owner of the mansion requests her help.

Obviously I went into this blind- it was a really twisty, fun story. I just love Darcy Coates as an author and did not pay attention to the fact it was part of a series before requesting.

Thank you #Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read a free e-arc of this one in exchange for my honest review!

Coates has once again followed through with The Twisted Dead. Each time I read a Darcy Coates book, I cannot wait for the next one. This author is truly a master of all that is ghosty and spooky. I tend to stay away from series, but The Whispering Dead, The Ravenous Dead, and The Twisted Dead are an exception . . . on a fairly short list of exceptions!