Marin has recently lost her mother in a tragic accident. Luckily, her mother’s estranged friend, a horror writer, offers Marin a place to stay in exchange for her services as a nanny to her younger daughters. Marin doesn’t really have any other prospects, so she travels to Lovelace House, an isolated manor on the coast of Maine, surrounding by forest. And Lovelace House and its inhabitants are very, very strange. The little girls regularly bury their dolls in the graveyard, their mother Alice is curt and unfriendly when she isn’t sequestered in her study writing, and no one ever comes to visit. Is Lovelace House as haunted as outsiders seem to think it is?

This book is sooo atmospheric and I love the way Lovelace House acts as a character. It reminded me of Rose Szabo's novel, What Big Teeth, in that respect. And the writing in All the Dead Lie Down is both gorgeous and whimsical and creepy—all my favorite things.

“There were speckled bitches and toadstools, and it reminded Marin of that fairy tale, the terrible one, with the house made of candy meant to lure children in. Then again, after just six weeks of watching the Hallowell girls, Marin could understand why a witch might feel compelled to eat them.”

So worth the read.

YOU KNOW I LOVE MY GOTHIC BOOKS AND THIS IS NO EXCEPTION

with vivid atmosphere, a SAPPHIC ROMANCE, and a strong fantasy element, this made for such a compelling, unputdownable read and i absolutely adored it. this was just a blast and i highly recommend picking this one up

All the Dead Lie Down was absolutely fantastical! McCauley wrote a story that was so well written I found myself flying through the pages, unable to put the book down, pondering what would happen next. My favorite piece of this entire story was how believable the characters were.

The writing is clear and clean, and very immersive. The book hums along at a good clip, but the pacing makes sure we're given time to breathe between plot-intensifying moments. The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb. I felt absolutely transported and I'm so incredibly glad I was able to read an arc of this story.

Pros:
Really nice (and unexpected) representation of anxiety. I also appreciated the creepy atmosphere, and the natural and normalized development of the sapphic romance. No homophobia, and nobody had to come out — hooray!

Cons:
I found myself wishing for snappier pacing and more realistic dialog (particularly from the two little girls) throughout. And for me, the supernatural elements needed to be integrated sooner. By the time the true nature of the horror came to light, I...didn't really buy it. The leap was just too late, too sudden, and too large for me to play along.

I really connected with our main character Marin, Always anxious, with a perpetual pit of dread in her belly, constantly fretting at how things can go wrong, a permanent state of caution and worry. And a perfect foil to Evie, the beautiful eldest sister to the girls Marin has been charged with nannying after her mother has died, and she has accepted an invitation to live with the Lovelace family at their secluded New England estate. Evie is bold and brash and beautiful and Marin is instantly intrigued. But the sisters are hiding something, and strange, unsettling things are happening in the old home and on the spacious increasingly spook grounds, and as Marin and Evie's romance blossoms, a sinister decay deepens. I didn't realize this was YA before I read it, but I found it to be the perfect balance of cozy-creepy atmosphere and charming love story, with some delightfully disturbing surprises.

Instagram post will be linked soon!

All the Dead Lie Down is a very atmospheric and gothic YA novel that delivers allllll of the spooky vibes.

Marin, our main character, is left completely alone when her mother passes away. She has just recently graduated high school and feels a bit lost. When her mothers childhood best friend asks Marin to move into their estate in Maine to become a nanny for her 2 young girls, Marin has no other option than to say yes.

Soon after arriving, sh*t hits the fan and it gets very creepy, very fast. The writing was very atmospheric and descriptive, while the plot moves at a captivating pace. There is LGBTQ+ rep in this one, which I loved! This has so many good twists and turns that are pretty odd and out there so I didn’t see them coming!

If you liked The Haunting of Bly Manor then I think you’d love this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such a perfect fall/winter read that I almost forgot that I was reading it in the middle of May. Atmospheric and spooky, with fog and ocean mists and cold New England summers? Love it!

The twists and turns this book took were so fun, even if a few of them are maybe slightly hinted at in the comps listed in the summary. But still! Chilling, but in a fun way. And the romance? I will never not love a sapphic romance, y’all.

4.5 ⭐️

All the Dead Lie Down is a whole mood. It’s gothic romance and horror and atmosphere. Even while it seems like not much is happening, it’s an enjoyable read. Everyday life at the Lovelace estate is so charming and otherworldly and othertimely that it lulls me into a false sense of security, meanwhile horrific realizations are dawning on me, one after another. I loved it!

The only thing keeping this from being a full 5/5 for me was the slightly OTT climax, but the characters and sense of place are so strong that I’m willing to suspend all my disbelief for them.

I will definitely be back for more Kyrie McCauley!

Also, I just want to give a huge shoutout for a realistic portrayal of tarot. I knew it was good when the first cards to show up weren’t major arcana!

I experienced this book in three formats: eARC, VoiceGalley, and the published audiobook. I loved the actual audiobook best, but I am grateful for the opportunity to receive both the ebook and a synthetic text-to-voice audio as ARCs.

Full review posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5460673527

The nitty-gritty: Atmospheric and eerie, All the Dead Lie Down is a nice mix of horror, coming-of-age and family secrets.

It was the creepy, evocative cover of All the Dead Lie Down that caught my attention, and I have to say Kyrie McCauley’s story matches the cover perfectly. This was such an atmospheric story with unexpected elements, although the most interesting parts didn’t really happen until after the halfway point. Still, as a reader who is very picky when it comes to young adult, I ended up really enjoying this.

Seventeen-year-old Marin Blythe is all alone in the world after her mother died in a terrible train accident. Luckily, her mother was friends with the famous horror author Alice Lovelace, who asks Marin to stay with her over the summer and act as a nanny to her two young daughters. Marin is grateful for the opportunity and arrives at Lovelace House eager to begin her job. 

But soon after she arrives, Marin realizes that things aren’t quite right. Alice Lovelace is reclusive and unfriendly. Her daughters Thea and Wren seem to delight in playing cruel tricks on her. She discovers a trunk in the attic full of long braids—made of real human hair. Thea spends time burying her “dead” dolls and holding funerals for them. And when Thea’s and Wren’s older sister Evie returns from school, she talks about a family curse, although no one will explain the details of the curse to Marin.

Eventually as Marin starts to bond with the girls and becomes closer to Evie, the terrifying secrets of Lovelace House begin to reveal themselves.

McCauley sets her stage perfectly, evoking a secluded, gothic setting, an old house with the ocean on one side and a forest on the other. The residents of Lovelace House seem quite at home there, as they are odd themselves. I liked the character of Alice, a Stephen King-like horror author who locks herself in her room all day and writes, suffering from migraines and writer’s block. You know there’s something “off” with her, but it isn’t until the final reveal at the end that the reader learns Alice’s secrets. And speaking of Stephen King, there’s even a nod to The Shining later in the story that made me smile.

There’s a sweet and subtle romance that develops between Marin and Evie, and I thought it was nicely done. After all the weird and disturbing things that Marin sees during her stay at Lovelace House, it’s a miracle she doesn't run for the hills, but part of her character development is trying to find where she belongs in the world, and I appreciated the fact that she sticks around to try and make her new found family work.

The author includes brief flashbacks that show the horrific accident Marin and her mother were involved in. Clearly she’s suffering from trauma and trying to find ways to deal with it, and when Evie and her sisters reveal their own past traumas, I was worried that the story would become too dark. But McCauley gives readers a glimpse of hope to temper the darkness, and for me if was just the right amount.

I mentioned that it takes a while for the plot to kick in, and that’s the main issue I had with this book. Nothing really happens in the first half, and I found myself growing bored and impatient with the story. True, the eerie atmosphere was exceptionally well done, but it was a lot of mood with really no substance behind it. But apparently McCauley used this time to carefully set things up, because the second half was such an improvement. We learn the secret of the Lovelace curse and wow, it was a doozy! I’m not going to mention it because it will spoil the surprise, but it was the perfect gothic element to make up for the slow first half. The author pulls in lots of ominous story details, like an ocean water flooded basement, the family crypt and cemetery, bones of the dead, the dark and creepy woods surrounding the property, and a greenhouse full of poisonous plants.

The last few chapters were thrilling and terrifying. Without giving anything away, Evie and Marin are involved in a confrontation with Alice, who is attempting to right a past wrong. McCauley adds even more creepy and disturbing scenes, and I flew through the final chapters as fast as I could. I also loved the sentimental, feel-good ending involving Marin and her situation, as she’s been trying to find her place in life after her mother’s untimely death. Fans of atmospheric storytelling and unusual supernatural elements should definitely check this out.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

*full review will be posted on my main platform shortly*

this was definitely creepy and something very wrong with the house that Marin was staying in.
Creepy children, a mother who is never around but hiding in her office to write a book.
Finding birds constantly in her room.
I didn’t expect why the house was so creepy and I definitely didn’t expect the twists that it gave either!

*4 stars*

This was wonderfully creepy and atmospheric. Filled with sapphic love and pining, and an interesting exploration of grief.

I loved the gothic setting and the slow burn of creepiness and secrets. The relationships between the characters felt so real and they were nicely fleshed out (no pun intended). I also really loved the chapter headings I thought they were really fun. I did think the ending felt a little rushed. I feel like it could have benefitted from a little more time spent on the reveals and motivations of some of the characters. I would have liked it to explore the more horror aspects of the story but I can understand why it was kept a little lighter as it is a Young Adult novel. Overall the atmosphere and representation were wonderfully done and I would recommend it to fans of slow burn gothic horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

All the Dead Lie Down by Kyrie McCauley attempts to deliver a haunting tale, but falls short due to its overwhelming similarity to the works that inspired it, The Turn of the Screw, and its tv adaptation, The Haunting of Bly Manor. Rather than carving its own path, this novel treads too closely in the footsteps of its predecessors, resulting in a disappointingly derivative narrative.

From the moment I delved into the story, I couldn't shake the feeling of déjà vu. The premise, centered around a governess caring for two troubled children, echoes The Turn of the Screw with unsettling precision. The familiar elements of a mysterious employer and children with dark secrets are regrettably recycled, leaving little room for originality or surprises.

Furthermore, McCauley's portrayal of the characters in All the Dead Lie Down felt like a copy-and-paste job from The Haunting of Bly Manor. The governess felt like a carbon copy of a character we've seen before. The children, seemingly innocent yet harboring sinister tendencies, came across as uninspired replicas of their counterparts in the aforementioned works. As a reader, I longed for depth and individuality, but instead found myself immersed in a shallow reflection of past characters.

While it's not inherently wrong for authors to draw inspiration from literary greats, All the Dead Lie Down's lack of originality undermines its own potential. By failing to bring anything fresh to the table, the novel leaves readers with a lingering sense of disappointment. It's disheartening to witness the potential of a promising storyline squandered by its reliance on well-trodden paths.

In conclusion, All the Dead Lie Down disappointingly fails to distinguish itself from the works that clearly influenced it, The Turn of the Screw and The Haunting of Bly Manor. The unoriginal plot and characters inhibit the novel's ability to captivate and engage readers. I hoped for a fresh and innovative take on the haunted governess trope, but sadly, this book did not deliver.

I’m going to admit that I was very bored most of the time but it still wasn’t a bad book, if that makes sense. Much more fantasy oriented than I expected instead of horror but since it’s YA, I should’ve known that. I wish it was spooky thought because it wasn't at all, it just felt rather stereotypical and flat. I also do feel like she was trying to make it like a lot of other stories. I liked the sapphic romance though!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was so promising! I was really enjoying it until the midpoint. The midpoint reveal felt like it came out of nowhere—though that could also have been the writing. Yes this is YA but the writing is inconsistent. Some lines are beautiful but most of the dialogue is painful.
The other reveals in the second half felt just as clunky and shoehorned, and the antagonist/villainy in the end was very disappointing. Just felt weak and not thought out very well.

All the Dead Lie Down is a modern gothic novel with a gorgeous, creepy atmosphere and deep complex characters.
After the death of her mother, Marin Blythe receives a surprising invitation from Alice Lovelace—an acclaimed horror writer and childhood friend of Marin’s mother. Alice offers her a nanny position at Lovelace House, an estate on the coastal line of Maine. She accepts the job of watching over the two girls and looks forward to meeting the writer of her favorite books. Arriving at Lovelace, she understands where the ideas for the stories come from, the old estate seeps with tension and pockets of fear. Plus, the two girls are peculiar. One buries her dolls at the on-site cemetery and the other pulls pranks to scare her off. Unexpectedly, the older sister returns home. About Marin’s age, Marin is drawn to her. She can’t decide if it’s because Evie is peculiar or if Marin has a desire waking within her. But then things get even weirder with the older sister home. What is going on at Lovelace? Are Alice’s horror stories true?

I enjoyed this goth horror/romance. Kyrie McCauley creates a landscape that drips in shadows and creepiness. Unlike some of this genre, this moves from practical horror to the supernatural; the danger is otherworldly. McCauley paces this book almost perfectly drawing you further into Marin’s life at Lovelace. You become invested in all the characters as twists and turns delve more into their psyche and life circumstances. The horror becomes all-encompassing, and the tension builds beautifully as the reader’s heart races.
But there is one issue. I would forgive this issue but it’s a large oversight of the rules that McCauley herself created. Without going into detail and spoiling the book, the rules of life and death and beyond are clearly set out and the characters’ actions followed this throughout the book. But the biggest twist of all breaks these rules. There is no explanation why the rules would be changed in this instance. I find this a huge oversight by the author making me think she can set up a beautiful atmosphere and enthralling story but can’t land an ending.

I must grin at the beautiful use of the title “All the Dead Lie Down”. You won’t truly appreciate it until you read the book. Hopefully, you can put aside the rule-breaking and enjoy this gorgeous gothic story.

This was a great atmospheric horror, with a nice build up to the reveals. The setting is on the coast of Maine, in a centuries-old gothic estate that I would love to visit. It has multiple graveyards, a greenhouse, and direct access to the beach so what else do you need??

The beginning is a little slow paced, but we're getting to know Marin and the Lovelace family and see that something isn't quite right. Marin's relationship with the younger girls was pretty cute and I liked seeing them bond and start to trust each other.

Marin enters a romance with the oldest Lovelace daughter and I probably could have done without it. The girls do have a couple nice moments, but I didn't feel like it added too much to the plot other than a bit of drama.

I was pleased with the twists and the direction this went. As things ramped up, I started reading faster to find out what was going on and how things would conclude. I thought the end was pretty satisfying and this is a fun sapphic horror.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books and NetGalley for the copy

Pitched as The Haunting of Bly Manor meets House of Salt and Shadows, All the Dead Lie Down is a title with a romantic gothic plot line that immediately grabbed my attention when I noticed it on NetGalley. However, this book unfortunately ended up not being for me. While the book feels quite slow overall, I appreciated its easy prose and enjoyed reading from the main character’s point of view.

An aspect that took me out multiple times was that the teen characters often had dialogue that made them sound much older, while the children characters were more inconsistent, at times seeming very much their young age and other times sounding more like teenagers. The time period and general setting also felt vague and hard to pin down. I assumed it was present day, especially since there is a line referencing the band, Paramore but then other little details like how they dressed, manner of speech, and way of life felt archaic at times.

Another disappointing element was the forced romance. The main character had little chemistry with the love interest, other than immediately being obsessed with her lips and acting like a lovesick puppy the minute she showed up.

Overall, I feel like the synopsis didn’t match what the novel actually delivered and I was expecting something much more atmospheric and creepy. All The Dead Lie Down might be something I’d recommend to a reader who had never read in the paranormal realm before but other than that, I’d say skip this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Katherine Tegen Books for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for review.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC for review!

I was first drawn to ‘All The Dead Lie Down’ because of the hauntingly beautiful cover. I just love the cover. Also, when a book is said to be ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor’ meets ‘House of Salt and Sorrows’, I’m going to want to read it! The story definitely reminded me a little of both, but it also felt different and unique.

I loved the setting of this book. I think the coastal Maine setting added the perfect atmosphere to the story. There was a gothic tone throughout the book that I really loved. You have the gothic house, the creepy children, and some strange happenings going on that made this a very chilling read. I loved McCauley’s writing and I flew through this book.

I definitely recommend this book, especially If you’re looking to read a creepy paranormal romance. The story focuses a lot on the budding romance between two of the main characters, Marin and Evie. I thought the relationship between the two girls was very sweet, even though it did seem like they fell for each other rather quickly.

I knocked off 1/2 a star because I did guess a major twist in the plot early on. However, I did really enjoy this story and I look forward to reading McCauley’s next book!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

“Cordelia never seemed to worry, so Marin did it for her.”

4.5 stars

At the start I wanted Marin just to leave, she was working herself to death for nothing. Aside from that, it builds just like a gothic horror, with a little love story between the oldest daughter and our MC. I wanted more earlier about Alice, but I appreciated the time spent developing the daughters and Marin. Great writing with a satisfying ending. If you are looking for a good sapphic gothic horror I would give this one a try.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc.

This book was delightfully gothic and spooky and, as strange as it sounds, I loved the way this book handled gore. Its way of describing it, often comparing it to mundane, or even beautiful things, made it even more jarring.

Definitely a book I recommend reading.