SUMMARY
Burnt-out Millennial medium Claire is hired as entertainment for the Wellington-Forge family at the family matriarch’s 80th birthday. When Claire and her best-friend-slash-spirit-guide, Sophie, discover that someone was murdered at the previous year’s celebration, they join forces with Bash, a depressed skeptic ex-detective, and Alex, a bon vivant non-binary teenager, to figure out the who, what, when, and why.

REVIEW
I started reading this in line for coffee. It was painful to have to wait to read chapter two, and as soon as I got home, I lit a candle, cozied up in a blanket, and devoured Grave Expectations.

(By the by: Grave Expectations is perfect for the blanket + candle + rainstorm + book combo.)

For all my fellow Gen-Z out there who see a book about a Millennial that’s billed as humorous and go “oh no,” don’t worry. I was cautious too. But the book is genuinely hilarious, full of tongue-in-cheek humor poking fun at shitty rich people, à la Knives Out.

As an American, I did miss some of the cultural references, but never felt lost or confused.

The banter between the characters is excellent; the characters perfectly balance both slotting into their murder mystery character role places and being fully fleshed out individuals.

Claire is a deeply sympathetic but also kind of pathetic main character, whose messy, incompetent method of investigating is balanced well with Sophie’s ghostly ability to walk through walls and acerbic Y2K teenage personality. Not to mention I'm a total sucker for the of "person who can see ghosts but it kind of sucks because dead people are mostly boring;" I find it to be an interesting, often funny take on the whole I See Dead People thing.

The characters are what make this book so memorable, and what make me really hope for a second book. There are still a lot of open threads Bell could follow–for example, what happened to Sophie–that I’m desperate for answers for because I have gotten so attached to these two girls.

FINAL THOUGHTS
I really needed a fun, quick-paced book to read. Grave Expectations hit the spot exactly. The best way I can describe the novel is like a cross between Knives Out and one of Eva Ibbotson’s ghost books (which I was obsessed with as a kid).

If you’re the kind of person who like a witty, sharp murder mystery and modern paranormal fantasy, I heavily suggest you give Grave Expectations a read.

Thank you to Vintage Anchor for providing a digital ARC via Netgalley.

If possible, support indie bookshops or your local library!!

3.5 stars.
I'm not entirely sure what I expected going into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised by the fun paranormal cozy I encountered. The characters felt well-fleshed out (ha) and the mystery was intriguing. I didn't end up guessing the "villain," but wasn't too upset as the big reveal was pretty fun. While it got fairly slow in the middle, I still enjoyed this read.

This was an excellent read for spooky season, especially if you're looking for something lighthearted as well as spooky. Grave Expectations follows the adventures of Claire, a not that good medium, and her ghostly best friend Sophie as they attempt to solve a murder at an English manor. I enjoyed it and would definitely read another book from Bell. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a Halloween read that is lots of fun!

A sprawling English manor, a woman who sees ghosts, and a death that sparks a murder investigation, but not in the way you think. Finding the killer is one thing, but finding the victim is on a whole other level.

How do you solve a murder when you don’t know who was killed? When Claire is hired for parlor tricks and a seance, the family who hired her gets more than they bargained for. Claire sees ghosts, watches a lot of detective shows, and is roped into trying to solve a murder without a victim. Thankfully, two members of the family decide to help her out.

The sprawling English manor is in disrepair, the family is full of suspects, and the ragtag team of investigators are motivated by a myriad of reasons. Grave Expectations is a delightful, cozy mystery, and I hope there will be more stories in this world. It's charming, it's quick, and it's satisfying.

"Grave Expectations" is a funny and supernatural mystery. Claire, a medium, and her ghost pal Sophie investigate a year-old murder at a rich family's estate with teen Alex and ex-cop Basher. The book's humor and Claire-Sophie's friendship shine, but some character changes and a tangled mystery dampen the fun a bit. Still, it's a unique twist on ghostly crime-solving, perfect for a fun, spooky read.

I really thought this book would be a pleasant diversion from your regular run of the mill who dunnits. It was a diversion alright but not a very pleasant one. I really had high hopes based upon the description, but I was sorely disappointed, the characters are truly awful, with little or no redeeming qualities, the mystery-murder was not the main focus of the book, it seemed to focus on the ghost/friendship of Claire and Sophie, both of whom were truly annoying. I would not recommend though it does seem there are many who liked it so maybe it just is not the one for me!
Thank you to Vintage Anchor Publishing and to Net Galley for the free ARC, I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

Grave Expectations follows a Claire, medium, and her best friend Sophie (a ghost), as they investigate a murder at a rich family's country house—that occurred a year ago at an event they didn't attend. Aided by two members of the family, teenage Alex and ex-cop Basher, they have to figure out not just what happened and why, but also who the victim was.

The writing is very funny, and the mystery keeps you hooked. There were a lot of things I appreciated about this book. Sophie and Claire's relationship is very well developed and it feels believable that they know and love each other deeply, but the fact that Sophie is dead presents some unique complications that neither of them can fix. Basher doesn't believe that Claire is a medium, and his skepticism presents a great obstacle for both Claire and the investigation. The wealthy family drama is perfectly balanced between soapy and hilarious, with the recounting of the fateful event a year ago marking a real high point in the book.

That said, not everything worked for me. Towards the end of the book, Claire seemed to pivot from lovable mess to really sad, with not a lot going for her as a character besides a conduit for Sophie. This plays into the low moment of the book, but it was also kind of frustrating. The mystery, which began as intentionally complicated by the lack of evidence, got a bit too into the weeds in the middle of the book, with the investigation feeling pretty aimless. I also hoped for a bit more of the family drama in the conclusion. The first half of the book had some really glorious scenery chewing and veiled threats, and I was disappointed that we didn't get any of that from the final reveal. Overall though, this was a very exciting mystery and the ghost elements were lots of fun.

This one was such a fun ride! Great characters, and a lot of mystery, intrigue, and unexpected turns!

This was just pure fun! A who done it murder mystery with a cast of characters that keep you guessing and a clairvoyant whose best friend is the ghost who’s been with her for years. Hilarious and also heartwarming this book is a treat!

Hilarity and friendships blossom in this paranormal mystery. Claire and her best friend Sophie have interesting jobs--a medium and her ghost assistant. The relationship is not perfect, and is tested when a job at a country estate becomes complicated and involves a murder. _Grave Expectations_ is a good read with comedy, suspense, and heart.

I have been a sucker for mysteries featuring not-quite-mediums since inhaling Richard Peck’s entire Blossom Culp series back in grade school, and am so happy to be able to add the extremely charming Grave Expectations to that beloved subgenre! Our heroine Claire Hendricks can see ghosts, in large part due to the attachment of a singular specter. When Claire was a teenager, her best friend went missing. Said best friend came back as a ghost, rendering Claire the only person, besides a possible murderer, who knows for sure that her best friend is dead. Claire has certainly suffered for the knowledge, enduring ridicule and worse as families and police alike understandably prefer hope over her unsubstantiated claims. The less than thrilling side effects of being attached to a ghost – including but not limited to constant cold and being plagued by visions and sounds no one else experiences – are little better, severely curtailing her ability to maintain either a job or a social life.

It’s taken years, but Claire has finally managed to parlay speaking with ghosts into a career that affords her a meager but independent living. When she runs into a wealthy acquaintance from college, she feels little remorse for quoting an inflated rate to conduct a seance at Figgy Wellington-Forge’s ancestral manor. It is, after all, one of her busiest times of the year:

QUOTE
“Claire and I were at university together, d’you remember me saying, Mummy?” said Figgy. “And I ran into her and, when she told me her job, I thought it would be so quirky and spooky. I was only saying to Claire in the car, it’s perfect for Halloween. Didn’t I say that, Claire?”

“Yes, you did. And yeah, this is usually quite a good time of year for me.”

Claire noticed that everyone in the room was sort of hanging around, watching her. It was a strange feeling. She didn’t think they were trying to be rude, but it seemed a bit like they were privy to a rare zoological exhibit. Just as she thought of them as common or garden posh dullards, Claire realized that they saw her as the lesser-known drab weirdo.
END QUOTE

Claire is canny enough to know when to push her eccentricities and when to hold back, as she prepares to essentially be the entertainment for Figgy’s grandmother’s birthday weekend. But not even she is prepared for a sudden death to mar the festivities. Intriguingly, the dead person’s spirit insists that they weren’t murdered. They do, however, believe that someone else was killed on the premises a year ago, and that it was definitely the fault of one of the Wellington-Forges.

While most of this family comfortably fit the posh dullard stereotype, Claire finds two allies among them as she begins to investigate. Alex is the Gen Z youngest member of the family, and is more than willing to provide backup to Claire and her seemingly out there ideas. Basher is the former cop who is far more skeptical of Claire’s abilities, though he has plenty of reason to side with her as she looks into his dead relative’s claims.

The year before, four guests had been present at the annual birthday weekend. After a series of catastrophic scenes, all four abruptly left the manor. Claire is sure that one of those guests never actually made it off the premises. With Alex and Basher’s help, she sets about tracking down the missing people while sorting through clues and alibis. The more she investigates, though, the more she worries that getting to the bottom of the case will destroy the first real friendships she’s been able to make in a long while… if the truth about her own checkered past doesn’t ruin everything first.

Claire, Alex and Basher are only three of the wonderful characters that populate this book; I’m leaving at least two others unmentioned for fear of spoilers. Grave Expectations uses the paranormal to engage with the often outrageous realities of modern life, even while grappling sensitively with murder investigations and the effects of crime and loss on those left behind. Claire’s relationship with her best friend-turned-spirit guide is both difficult and meaningful. It’s heavy stuff, but much like the modern-day millennials she writes about, Alice Bell masterfully uses humor to explore her themes. In this example, Claire has to carefully choose her words when the person who will most likely be signing her paycheck notices her staring at the headline of his newspaper:

QUOTE
[“]Corporate political correctness is running amok everywhere, and you can’t even bloody eat food how you want!” he said, misreading her expression. “Now people are complaining that if you make rarebit with mayo, it’s cultural appropriation! Can you believe it?”

Claire considered the best way to answer this.

“No,” she said. “I cannot believe people are doing that.”

She was aware that (a) she would probably fall into this newspaper’s definition of wokerati, and (b) if she was able to conceal this from Hugh like a ratfuck coward, she might be able to get a bonus for good behavior on top of her already-inflated fee.
END QUOTE

Claire is every millennial trying to keep body and soul together while putting up with the fake outrage of people who don’t have to worry about making rent and can thus channel their energy into problems that don’t actually exist. Her story is wonderful representation of what it means to be a burned out thirty-something trying to eke out a living in our modern era while dealing with unresolved trauma and invisible afflictions. This debut novel is a winner from start to finish, and I can’t wait to read more from this author!

The premise of Grave Expectations is so unlike any book I've ever encountered that it immediately drew me in: Claire and the ghost of her best friend, Sophie, team up to solve a murder. Grave Expectations is full of fantastic queer rep, witty banter, and unique circumstances that kept my interest through until the final page. Because of the unique nature of the story, the approach to crime-solving feels new and fresh rather than the tried and true murder mystery tropes. I enjoyed learning about how ghosts function within the magic-system of the novel.

There were a few things that kept this from a 5-star read for me: With the amount of time Claire spent reflecting on Sophie's death, I expected some sort of resolution or moment of closure for Sophie— whether that be in the form of identifying her killer, Claire finally telling Sophie's parents about her death, or just a conversation where Claire and Sophie actually acknowledge the depth of their circumstances. I was a bit disappointed to find that the novel ended without any real resolution for Sophie. Additionally, the slang did a good job of maintaining the setting of the story, but, at times, was a bit too dense to follow for someone who is not British. There were a few instances in which I had to google phrases in order to understand what was actually happening in the plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed Grave Expectations, and think it's a perfect spooky season read!

As a millennial, I deeply appreciated reading a book rife with my kind of humor while also poking fun at us. I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting going in but reading about a medium who is only a medium because of an odd circumstance stumbling around while trying to solve a mystery as if they're Nancy Drew was equal parts hilarious and sad when I realized just how lonely she was. The tension about the Essex incident hung over Claire like a sword and I felt my own heartbeat kick up when it was revealed. I came to care for the little found family group. As for the mystery, I like that there were context clues throughout that were rather obvious even if Claire didn't see them so the reader could figure it out as they went along. I was very satisfied with the conclusion and how neatly everything was wrapped up.

3.5/5!

Do you like ghost stories? What if the ghost was helping to investigate what happened to another ghost? Grave Expectations takes that premise and adds in several dashes of humor, a touch of tension, and just the right measure of heart.

From the start of this book I knew I was going to love the cast. Claire and Sophie are the main stars, but there are several secondary characters who grabbed my attention and made me feel invested in their stories. Alex and Basher…obsessed! I loved watching the characters progress through this book and work together to solve a mystery steeped in family drama.

The pacing of Grave Expectations was a bit slower than I walked into the book expecting. While the chapters were a bit longer than my taste, Bell clearly wanted to methodically unravel the journey to the reader and does achieve this with a satisfying end. Dare I say, Bell left the door open for a sequel? Just my wishful thinking, perhaps?

Grave Expectations is a book that you pick up, fall in love with the characters, and stay for the intriguing mystery. For those looking to have a slice of the paranormal this spooky season, but don’t want to pick up a horror book, this would be a perfect choice!

A huge thank you to Vintage for my gifted copy!

I thought the premise of the story was interesting and it started out fine. But once they figured out what needed to be investigated, it really seemed to drag. Part 3 picked up to give a satisfactory ending.

Thank you to the author, Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This was not what I was expecting at all. It is wholesome, even with the rotting corpse ghosts. I love that I didn't know Sophia's deal at first. I squealed when that was revealed.
This was fun.

This was an absolute delight to read! A protagonist and her “familiar” ghost and who will appeal to young readers as well as seasoned mystery fans like me, plus lightly disguised caricatures of the typical upper class English family including a daughter named Figgy, a brother named Basher, and a mother named Clemmy blend together to create a sassy and clever mystery. Fans of cozy British mysteries that include a bit of the supernatural will gravitate to this one. I’ll be recommending this as part of my “31 Days of Halloween” reading list.

This book seems to be getting a ton of promotional ink, which is odd for a novel of its ilk. In most ways this book is no different from the many well structured but not especially unusual mysteries of this sort. Even the addition of the ghost best friend is, while charming, not really anything new.

None of this is to say that this isn’t a good or enjoyable story. It’s both, to be sure. But so are many books which are very similar and largely ignored by major review outlets.

The humor in this is notably good, and to an extent it sets the book apart from its peers. The rest feels standard for the better offerings of the genre: Decent mystery, likable characters, solid pacing. There’s not a ton of immersive atmosphere, but the setting still feels satisfying.

In all, it’s a good book, and very similar to other light mysteries in most ways. There’s a little extra humor and a very lovable ghost companion, making it a worthy read all around.

This was an absolute blast to read. It's clever, funny, and a great story. This was an absolute pleasure to read and I can't wait to read more Alice Bell books! I would recommend this to those that enjoy mysteries and ghost stories. Special Thank You to Alice Bell, Vintage Anchor, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy prior to publication in exchange for an honest review.

Grave Expectations – Alice Bell

Thank you @netgalley and @vintageanchorbooks for this eARC.

Grave Expectations has a millennial medium, an English countryside setting and a bunch of quirky characters who set out on an investigation. I was drawn to it by the premise, especially because I love supernatural themes and all things spooky.

Claire (the clairvoyant pun has been used very minimally in the book, to my surprise), a 30-something medium, and her spirit guide, Sophie (a 17-year-old girl who was her best friend and went missing), are the protagonists of this novel. It gave me Knives Out (first part) vibes with the secluded mansion and posh family harbouring their own dark secrets. Claire and Sophie are joined by two members of the family to help find the truth behind a murder that may have happened at their home, a year ago.

Blending enough humour, “investigatoring” and spooky elements, Grave Expectations was a fun read. There were quite a few millennial references thrown in along with some hilarious instances, all of which I enjoyed.

I found Claire very silly at times, but then, considering her circumstances, it does make sense, to some extent (Sophie was also irritating sometimes, by the way).

I felt there were a few too many characters and personally found it difficult to keep track of who’s who. I liked the main characters but not enough to connect to them. And, some of the details I wanted to know (like, what actually happened to Sophie or why Basher quit) were not divulged. I’m not sure if this is being withheld for a reason (perhaps, a sequel?). One of my major issues was with the ending – you realise it could have been way more easily and quickly solved. I mean, even the characters admit it! But well, I did enjoy reading the book.
Overall, I’d say it’s a light mystery to pick up if you’re looking for something fun, especially for the spooky season.

3/5