A group of night-shift workers, that suffer from insomnia, meet up in the graveyard behind the college of their small town to share cigarettes and misery. One night, they notice a hole that wasn't there before. An empty grave that may be linked to the strange "incidents" that have gone on around town. An ensemble cast reads this novella.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this e-arc.*

Title: Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
Publication Date- 09/24/24
Publisher- MacMillian Audio
Overall Rating- 4 out of 5 stars

Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audio Review: Audio is the way to go with this one. It’s a full cast and because the story is told through various perspectives, it really adds to the story. Would highly recommend the audio as the way you read this.

Review: Graveyard Shift is a very interesting novella that takes place over the course of 24 hours. Before, or after, whichever you prefer, I would highly recommend reading the author's note. M.L. Rio talks about what led to her writing this story and the place Graveyard Shift originated in the author should be heard.

As a whole I really enjoyed this. It’s dark and atmospheric, mysterious and engaging. We get to know several characters who are fully flushed out in a short period of time. Because it’s a novella, of course at the end of the story I wanted more and also, the plot did fit well for a novella. Hopefully that made sense. The characters being so different and interesting, kept me invested in the story. The major plot device is not my favorite but I truly enjoyed the various characters that I was a bit more interested in the main topic of the plot (you’ll see).

Like in the authors previous work, the writing is top notch and flows well. I think you will find yourself easily engrossed looking forward to finding out how it ends. All in all, I enjoyed my time with this novella. I think I had slightly higher hopes that were not met but I’m not mad I read it. My only real compliant is because I loved the characters and not the plot as much I just wish that aspect was slightly different. That’s a hard thing to put in a review because I am not the author and nor could I ever be.

Regretfully this didn’t have the same sparkle that If We Were Villains did. BUT it could be because I was not hooked into the audiobook. I will absolutely try reading this again when it’s published (in book form), but it was not as captivating as I was hoping it would be. Still will recommend to others to read.

I really liked the narrators, It was really fun to have the different narrators for the different points of view. It's a very short novella and I feel like it should have been a little bit longer. Their was a lot happening but it wasn't explained as much as I would have liked which made it hard to understand at some times. I also feel like the end was rushed, it was out of nowhere and didn't really make sens to me. It was a super quick read tho and really interesting, perfect for the Halloween season!

I couldn't wait to dive into this novella by ML Rio. It was such a heart pounding read. The pace was really fast. I think the fast pace made me wish for some more depth though and it would have been fascinating to have this be longer. As for the audio, I thought the production was great and the full cast narration was top notch. I really think the audio elevated this one!

A group of night shift workers at a college's cemetery uncover a mysterious open grave and team up to solve the strange happenings in their town, following a suspicious gravedigger as they unravel the mystery.

This is my first experience with this author's work, and I am already struck by the unique style of writing. How intriguing and different! This novella offers multiple points of view, blending mystery and horror seamlessly. Despite its brevity, the book skillfully immerses readers in a dark and atmospheric world, where characters from diverse backgrounds contemplate a mysterious hole in the graveyard.

The novella is impactful and expertly crafted. If you enjoy dark mysteries with an unsettling atmosphere, look no further. This is the perfect read for Halloween!

The audiobook adaptation is superbly done. The narrators are engaging and captivating, making it easy to differentiate between characters and maintaining the listener's interest throughout. Even if you didn't enjoy the book in its written form, the audiobook is a great alternative. I highly recommend giving this book a chance and experiencing it through the audiobook.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

first time getting into this authors work i wish this for me i couldn't get into i barely knew what was happening while listening

Graveyard Shift by M. L. Rio is a captivating novella blending gothic horror with modern sensibilities. Set over 24 hours in a historic graveyard, it follows an eclectic group of night shift workers. Rio's masterful storytelling creates an unsettling atmosphere, enhanced by full-cast narration in the audiobook.

Despite limited character development, Rio crafts an engrossing atmosphere. She intertwines unsettling scientific facts and ethical dilemmas with academic themes, creating depth through the plot and diverse cast. This approach, reminiscent of her novel If We Were Villains, showcases Rio's distinctive storytelling style.

The ending leaves room for interpretation while hinting at the true nature of events, adding intrigue. Rather than traditional supernatural scares, the novella focuses on the ethical implications of unchecked scientific pursuits. Graveyard Shift delivers a potent dose of dark, unsettling vibes that will appeal to fans of atmospheric mysteries and gothic horror, potentially haunting readers long after they've finished!

This book/audio was not for me. I just couldnt get into it. I dont know if it was the narrator or both but it was very boring and didnt keep my attention.

The Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio was a quick and eerie read. After loving Of We Were Villains I had high expectations for this one. I wasn't aware this was a novella when I began reading it but I was pleasantly surprised at how much happened in such a short story. The writing was descriptive and flowing. It really enforced the gothic and creepy vibes. The characters were interesting and so real. The plot was engaging and kept me hooked from the very beginning. The audiobook was well done and really added to the dark atmosphere. Overall, an amazing dark and short story!

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a super short novella that takes place over 24 hours and it still feels like nothing happens. And not in a fun Becky Chambers way. It's hard to explain - but even with a full cast audio, I felt like I was barely keeping up with the characters.

It also ends right at the part I hoped would be the crux of the story - so by the time things were getting really interesting, bam! It's over.

I found the characters very interesting. I really liked how they all had mostly separate lives, but the few things they have in common (smoking and night life) brought them together.

I also enjoyed following the story of these characters and uncovering little bits about their lives.

I just wasn't 'awed' or 'amazed' with this short story. In all honesty, it could be me. I am starting to figure out that short stories aren't working for me. However, I felt like there wasn't really anything new or different in this story for me. I have read books with this same plot and twists before.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT is the rare story that simply did not work as a novella. Usually I'm begging for an editor to cut words, but this was one dying for more. There was so much packed into so few pages that nothing felt truly explored or answered.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley, for my free audiobook for review.

This novella bears the unmistakable trademarks of the author—richly atmospheric and steeped in academia. Despite its brevity, I found immense enjoyment in getting to know the characters, each vividly sketched within the tight confines of the narrative. The multiple points of view keep the pace brisk and the story fluid, allowing for a dynamic progression that captivates from start to finish. Overall, the story is compelling, and I must admit, I found myself wishing it were longer. The ending, in particular, struck me as cinematic and brilliant!

I had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook, and the full cast of narrators—Jess Nahikian, M. L. Rio, Max Meyers, Si Chen, Susan Dalian, and Tim Campbell—did a remarkable job of embodying each character. Their performances brought the story to life. The overall production was excellently executed, enhancing the storytelling and listening experience.

I did the audio version and loved the multiple narrators included. The only negative I have is I wish it was longer and not a novella. I want more!

The introduction/prologue where it talks about insomnia really set the tone for the story. The ambiance was incredibly spooky and I wish I’d waited til October to read it. Told from multiple POVs, 5 graveyard shift workers from different types of jobs meet in a cemetery and find an unexpectedly fresh open grave. Each chapter starts with the time of night and follows a character through their shift, leading up to the big reveal of who dug out the grave and why. The characters were easy to differentiate on who’s who and who was doing what, while maintaining a steady plot the whole way through. Chilling and creepy, the author did not disappoint with this one! Great read for the autumn season!

although this was a short listen, i didn't care for it much, which is such a bummer since i loved If We Were Villains from this author! this is listed as horror, but there was really only one scene that was scary. the rest of the book was just the characters running around.

speaking of the characters, although the different narrators did a great job narrating each character, i wasn't attached to the characters or feel any type of way about them; they all sort of blended together. i feel like the author wanted the characters to drive the story forward, but they weren't interesting.

the fact that this book takes place over one night is a cool structure/gimmick, but this book overall just didn't do much for me. i could have easily listened to it in one sitting but instead split it up because i wasn't super invested. i just felt very meh about the whole thing. i will still be on the lookout for this author's upcoming releases!

Graveyard Shift is out on September 24, 2024. thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of Graveyard Shift in exchange of my honest opinion.

M.L. Rio bring us again another story with eerie atmosphere, unreliable narrators and a dreadful problem that looms over the characters.
Here we have five different people that works at the night shift and meets at the graveyard nearby to smoke. You can tell the bone deep tiredness that takes a toll on their physical and mental abilities, until one night they see an open hole in the graveyard that has been out of use for quite a few years.
What happens next is this odd investigation where the characters have absolutely no mental capacity to take that task and, as true M.L Rio fashion, they do it anyway.
The narration was masterfully done and you can tell the mental state of the characters by the tone of the narrator!

This book was a great read for fall and gives all the vibes one wants for this season. I just wish it was a bit longer and things would be more deeply explored, but we have a solid book with Graveyard Shift nonetheless.

This was not my cup of tea. I was a little confused throughout, as I feel like the majority of this novella was about the characters and not the actual mystery. Yeah, you get to find out the "answer" to the mystery, but it is not fleshed out in any great detail. It's kind of like, "Here you go... now back to the important bit, the people!". None of the characters were all that appealing to me, as I really didn't "stay" with any of the characters long enough to be attached in any sense. Prior fans of this author may enjoy, but I will not be recommending it.

This audiobook hooked me from the beginning. The narrators were fantastic. It was a quick, spooky listen perfect to get you in the mood for the season.

I will say that I wanted more. The ending actually had me taking out my phone and checking because I thought I accidentally fast forwarded to the end. I felt like I was missing something. I am going to have to relisten to the last 1/4th of it to try to make sense of it because ultimately the ending didn't make any sense to me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me the ALC for this novella.

I found the story to be interesting, but ultimately I wanted a little more. The story could have used some more pages to fully finish the story. The ending felt out of nowhere, but I did enjoy the world.