Predictable and generally dull, to be completely honest. I struggled with finishing this one, because it bored me to tears.

It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel for this author. It is very well done and I look forward to seeing more from this author. This was a very well done atmospheric historical mystery. I would have liked a little less of the romance, but otherwise well done.

Valentine is a very mature and self-reliant character. She had to grow up fast when she lost her mother at the age of six. Her father was not the best at helping her either, but I don’t think he was a totally bad parent, just incapable of helping her much. She keeps to herself, which is not totally a bad thing, but she is very kind to Birdy a simple girl who lives in the woods. It is her connection to Birdy that I really liked about Valentine, most people ignore or chase Birdy away, but Valentine wants to help her and others like her. I also like the fact that at an early age she befriended the son of the town bully and continued to have a friendship with him even when others tried to discourage her.

There is a love triangle in this book, which maybe overshadowed the mystery plot line too much. I liked both of the boys, although I thought Rowan was a bit of a wimp at times. But I think he was in character with the time period too, in that you respected your elders and did what they told you to do with your life. He does become a bit of a rebel in the end though. I liked how he developed the relationship with Valentine, even though he was rich and her poor, he didn’t overwhelm her but took it slow and gentle. There was also a bit of a family feud between their families, which added to the tension. Sam, the childhood friend, was also a good guy, and considering his upbringing was unexpected. He did have a temper though, but was always in control of it. His relationship with Valentine was very sweet and he loved her deeply. He would die for her, and was very much her protector.

The mystery part of this book is what really made it shine. There were some awesome twists and turns that were hard to predict. I did have the person who ended up being the murder on my radar, but as a player in the story not as the murderer. So it was a bit of a surprise when it was revealed. There is a bit of a slow part in the middle of the book, where the romance was the main focus, but once we get back to the mystery the story really takes off and was very hard to put down. Even after the murderer was revealed there were still some unexpected things that happened. The ending was sweet and wonderful and exactly what I wanted to happen to the characters.

A great debut, a great historical mystery with a nice romance thrown in. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries with good twists and turns as well. Looking forward to the next book from this author.

I wasn’t sure about the premise of this book, it sounded interesting so I decided to read it. I’m SO glad I did because I absolutely loved it!!! Our main character, Valentine is a young woman who is easy to feel like she is your friend. Learning about her difficult life you feel for her, but she never whines or complains about the hand dealt to her. There is romance in this novel, but the main driving force of the novel is the mystery or mysteries that are unraveled throughout. Just when you think that you, and Valentine, have figured out who is a murderer you are thrown a twist that changes everything. The novel left me wondering about the futures of our main characters and hoping for the best for them, which to me is always the sign of characters I really loved. Speaking of love, the love(s) in this novel are not instant love but are real relationships and you can see the motivation of each character through the ups and downs. One thing is for sure, I can’t wait to read more by Teri Bailey Black!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an unbiased review,

After some thinking about this book I decided to change my review. The first quarter of this book did a lot of building up which can be boring at times. This is all about a girl whose mom was hung for murder. So many more deaths happened in relationship to her mother but why? It was shocking as to why! There are 2 boys in love with our lovely main character. One rich, one poor. Which will she choose? This is a fantastic book. I’m so glad I took time to think about this and give it a proper review

Thank you to Macmillan /Tor Forge for the arc of this book.
This book held me from the beginning, kept me guessing and intrigued, but as much as I enjoyed it, I felt like it fell a little flat towards the end.
But overall a good read.

Read: 08/07-08/08

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black

A mother hanged for murder.

A daughter left to pick up the pieces of their crumbling estate.

Can she clear her family’s name if it means facing her own dark past?

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother’s legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

What I Liked:

This book really surprised me. I am going to be honest. I kind of went into this book with low expectations. However, I found myself drawn into the story. Valentine (as much as I did not love her name) was a wonderful main character. It was easy to become invested in her and want her to get her happy ending. Especially seeing her kindness to Birdy. That is not something you see a lot in YA books so I was pleasantly surprised by the aspect of the book. I also loved both Rowan and Sam. I think her relationships with both of them were well done.

The plot of this book was fantastic. The chapters are short so you feel like you are flying through the book, which really helps with the pacing of the story. There were several twists in this story and I can honestly say I had no idea who the killer was until it was revealed. That doesn’t happen a lot these days. It was fun getting to dig through the dark secrets of Feavers Crossing and those who live in it. I also absolutely loved the ending. I think the author did right by both Rowan and Valentine (I promise that gives no spoilers).

What I Didn’t Like:

There were a few continuity errors that seemed to pop up. Times where a character would not know of something when it had been previously discussed and I don’t think those were times where a character was intentionally playing dumb. This could be due to the copy being an ARC. I also would have liked more of a wrap up with Sam’s storyline (again I promise it does not give anything away).

Publication Date: August 7, 2018

Rating: 8/10

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Valentine Deluca has learned to study hard, keep her head down and try to stay as invisible to the others at Drake’s Academy as possible. She’s only able to attend the school through the generosity of a mysterious benefactor. It’s her final year and she’s not sure what the future holds for her. Her past is certainly dark enough. Living with and looking after her father in the once grand home of her mother. A mother who was hanged for the murder of Rowan Blackshaw’s father when Valentine was a small child. Is that what he sees when he looks at her? A murder’s daughter? The day the vicar approaches her and quietly tells her he thinks her mother was innocent sets Valentine’s life on a road she never thought she would be traveling.

Black offers up a dark gothic tale of vengeance, betrayal and romance that will hook teens from the beginning. She delivers up a story of a strong young woman bent on setting the record straight regardless of the powerful people who try to stop her. She is a survivor and readers will celebrate her courage. This is a good ‘fall into, escape from reality’ reading while addressing issues of self-worth, courage, confidence and honesty. A definite purchase for libraries.
#GirlAtTheGrave #NetGalley

The cover for Girl at the Grave grabbed me and pulled me in. From there, I was intrigued by the synopsis about a small-town mystery. After beginning to read, the synopsis left out a huge point in the book: its actually a historical fiction book, which made the book even creepy-cooler! I would have loved to read this closer to autumn and Halloween as a Sleepy Hollow or Woman in Black type of book. Its not horror at all, but it is a murder mystery with a little love triangle subplot.

When Valentine was a young girl, her mother was hanged for murder, The town she lives in turned their backs on her for her reputation and she learned to retreat into her own private world. Though poor, her education is paid for by an anonymous benefactor and she takes full advantage of this. Her only friend is a boy named Sam who's reputation is just as bad if not worse, and for this, they accept each other no matter what.

Of course, the mystery of the book enters and allows us to second guess every character's intentions and motivations. Roadblocks surface and even the town is loaded with secrets and lies. There were twists and suspicions up until the very last pages of the book.

"But I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe there was some hope for the hopeless. Some worth behind the worthless. Some forgiveness for the unforgiveable."

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an advance copy of this book!

My knee-jerk reaction to this cover is that it is a horror story - it's not. I believe when I requested it, I was doing cover grabs and went ooh horror, but it's actually a YA suspense/thriller/mystery it's also YA historical with a gothic feel. As a sidenote- I'm really excited in this uptick of YA psych thrillers and mysteries.

The story follows Valentine, who lives in a small town is has long been a topic of gossip since her mother was hanged for the murder of one of the most prominent men in the town. We follow Valentine as she has been told by another townsperson that her mother was in fact innocent.

This story has a love triangle, but I actually enjoyed this one.

I enjoyed Teri Bailey Black's writing style a lot as well, the story was beautifully written. Slow burn gothic mystery with a little kick of romance.

***any quotes included in this review are from an advance readers copy and subject to change prior to publication***

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this young adult gothic fiction eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

girl at the grave (Teri Bailey Black)

Title: girl at the grave

Author: Teri Bailey Black

Publisher: Macmillian-Tor/Forge

Publication Date: TODAY! (hardcover/e-book)

ISBN: 978-0765399489

Source: NetGalley

The beginning of this novel was promising but it ended up being not to me taste.  The positive things that made me finish the book were two-fold:

1. I liked the main character, Valentine.  She was smart and resourceful.

2. I wanted to know how Valentine was going to prove her mother's innocence and find the true killer.

Unfortunately, there were several plot issues that made this an unlikable read for me.

1. The love triangle.  This was the primary plot of the story.  Who was Val going to pick?  The angst drove me bonkers even though I liked both love interests for once.  I just honestly didn't care who she chose.

2. The murders.  Val did not really use her brain for solving the crime.  She was too busy trying to decide who she loved.  The "clues" were lackluster and Val admits to herself in the book that she was focused on boy problems and willfully ignored everything else.

3. The killer.  The who-dunnit was so boring and not really fun.  In fact I just sighed in exasperation about how reveal happened.

4. The scariness.  Well there wasn't really any.  I didn't really feel there was any suspense or danger or excitement.

5. The ending.  It had a convenient plot "twist" to make Val's life magically get better in an instant.

Though the Gothic elements were technically there, the novel itself really had no Gothic feel in either writing style or plot.  Most of it felt like a typical teen romance novel with a historical fiction veneer.  I was disappointed in the plot in terms of the murder mystery element.  The true version of events just felt convoluted and unexciting.  Shame because I wanted to like this one.  Unfortunately it must walk the plank!  Arrrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother's legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer.

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Teri Bailey Black - Author

To buy the novel go to:

girl at the grave - Book

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

I would like to thank Tor Teen for access to review this Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley! Girl at the Grave will be released on August 7th.

My Rating: 2 stars      

Overall: Dull, irritating characters, but still an ok read

A Synopsis: Valentine's mother murdered a man in front of their home years ago. Valentine was left behind to pick up the pieces and try to live a normal life. Until one day, someone in the small village suggests that maybe her mother wasn't the one who killed him after all. But Valentine had been there. She had seen her mother do it.... right? But now, things are starting to point to Valentine following in her mother's footsteps. Murders begin happening, and everyone is pointing their fingers at her. But only one person believes she is innocent... the son of the man her mother killed.

My Thoughts: I enjoyed reading about Valentine. She was a full character with doubt, fear, suspicion, and everything that makes a good thriller. Sadly, I didn't feel the same about the other major characters. She was obviously the figurehead of the story, but no one else really seemed to be as detailed as she was.

And the love triangle. I'm sorry, but I could NOT handle this one. I wish it had just been a struggle between her and her emotions over the love interest that really mattered. That would have felt more genuine, and I would have had an easier time flying through the pages wondering if they would be together or not.

Overall, the story was fine. The murder and mystery was well written, and I seriously was trying to figure it out myself a few times. But, sadly the rest of the book disappointed.

I was super excited to read this as I thought it would be a paranormal/Historical Fiction/YA book. While the book wasn’t what I thought. I still thought it was enjoyable. The book is a historical fiction set in the late 1800’s in a small town. When Valentine was six her mother was hung for killing a prominent member of the town. Valentine has spent the last 11 years rebuilding her life. She goes to school which is paid for by a mysterious benefactor and does really well. She has a best friend Sam who is in love with her and then all of the sudden Rowen starts taking an interest in her. Rowan just happens to be the son of the man that her mother murdered. There is also another murder in town and Valentine is immediately the murder suspect. While she tries to figure out the truth about both murders- she navigates between trying to figure out her heart.
I really liked Valentine’s character. The middle of the book is a little slow which is why I gave the book 3 stars – but I didn’t guess who the murderer was and was completely surprised. I liked the ending as well.

This review was posted on Goodreads and Twitter.

A historical drama with potential for mystery. But the mystery was mediocre at best. I think the setting was supposed to add to the suspense but it really didn't. There's alot of small town drama and nastiness. so if that's not your thing stay away. However if you want a Gilmore Girls like set of characters with a super mean version of Taylor well then here you go. There's a huge focus on the love triangle between Rowen, Valentine, and Sam. But it was pretty obvious from the beginning who she would pick. Plus Sam was just a jealous pig and I couldn't get behind him as a character. Overall I liked this book and would def read more by this author in the future. But i was pretty meh about this experience as a whole. I wanted more mystery thriller and less teenage drama. It was just a little too much for my taste. Though on the plus side, that cover is BEAUTIFUL!

Plot 3
Characters 3.5
World Building 4
Writing Style 3
Personal Enjoyment 3

Overall 3.3

The general plot of this book really intrigued me, as I love a good murder mystery. Valentine, the main character, lives her life in the shadow of her mother's crime of murder over a decade ago. When new murders begin, she is of course the prime suspect. Oh, and let's not forget the love triangle, which is making her life even more difficult! The historical setting, in the late 1800s, really interested me, because it played a part in how the story progressed and its characters reacted. I was also thoroughly impressed by the fact that I had no idea who the killer was! Not to mention the feminist themes that were thrown in. I really did enjoy this book. The only reason I wouldn't give it five stars, is because of the readability. I felt like the book was going to wrap up, and then some other big event would happen. It seemed like some of the events could have been cut out, and the book would have been just as good. It was like there was just too much going on in the later part of the book, and I started to wonder if it would ever end. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and the happy ending was a pleasure.

No matter what Valentine does she cannot get away from her mother's grim legacy. When a new string of murders occurs in her small town, all signs seemingly point to the daughter of a murderer. Interestingly enough the son of her mother's victim is the only person on Valentine's side. Valentine plans on uncovering the real killer, but when she discovers the truth she will have to come to terms with her own secrets, even if it means losing those she cares about.

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black is a debut Gothic-tinged YA historical mystery thriller. It was one of my more anticipated books of the season and while it was decent, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. My favorite aspect of the novel is Valentine herself. She hasn't exactly had an easy life, but that's shaped her into the independent and decisive character that she is. The only thing that she isn't decisive about is boys. There is a love triangle, which if you know me I'm not usually a fan. I preferred Rowan from the start - beyond that the drama with Sam is just too wishy-washy in my personal opinion. I will say though that the author does a very good job of creating drama in terms of the murders and the core mystery, especially with all the twists and turns to keep us guessing. Learning about the town history was also interesting, but sometimes things got bogged down with the details and complexities. The story is a decent murder mystery, but honestly I was hoping there was going to be more of a horror or paranormal element as well.

Overall, this debut thriller by Teri Bailey Black is a more than serviceable YA historical mystery thriller. There were a few elements that didn't quite work for me, but I still enjoyed following Valentine's atmospheric story. Personally, I was expecting a little more murder mystery and a little less love story, but maybe that's just me.

Girl at the Grave is an atmospheric YA mystery set in the late 1800's. Reminiscent of Wuthering Heights and The Scarlet Letter, it evokes gothic sensibilities, an underlying sense of unease, and the terrors of rural small-mindedness for women and those who were different. Valentine has spent her life being known as the daughter of a murderess and, despite her success in school, she can't seem to outrun her past or her poverty. New murders shine a spotlight on her as a suspect, but she is determined to find the truth. Meanwhile, Valentine is caught between her childhood friend and hopeful admirer - Sam, and the handsome, wealthy son of the man her mother killed- Rowan- who seems to be unexpectedly falling for her.

Love triangles are not always my favorite, but I actually thought this one was well-written and warranted given the circumstances. Valentine doesn't always make the best choices, but she wants to find the truth and do what is right. As the tension builds, things get creepier and I felt very scared for Valentine as things close in around her.

Valentine lives in a small, gossipy town full of dark secrets. We get some wonderful consideration of how people with differences are treated. Our heroine befriends a woman with mental differences and sees her value when everyone else assumes the worst of her. Women, especially poor women, are often not treated well and we discover that during this time, women could not attend universities and married women could not own property. These threads added depth and tackled important issues, without feeling separate from the main plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it if you want an atmospheric historical YA mystery. It's an impressive debut and I would definitely read more from this author. I agreed to review an early copy of this book received via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Girl at the Grave doesn't have any ghosts or scenes I would describe as horror filled. It's a pure murder mystery-suspense with a strong love triangle subplot. I'm not a fan of that romance trope, in fact I avoid it at all costs if possible. I can't say that I loved that aspect here and how it lingered for much of the book, but my enjoyment of the twisty and unpredictable mystery took center stage, winning me over. Early on I guessed a major twist in the book which made me think this would be pretty predictable. I was pleasantly surprised how much more there was in store, and how many pieces of the plot would be neatly tied by the end.

When she was six years old, Valentine's mother was hanged for murder. The town of Feavers Crossing turned their backs on her, not wanting to be tarnished by her now black reputation. People she once considered to be friends didn't hesitate to snub or insult her, so it was easier to retreat into her own private world. Though she and her father are poor, a mysterious benefactor has paid for her education at the exclusive school in town.

She's grateful for the opportunity to attend and doesn't squander it, but she has no friends except a boy who works there named Sam. Her best friend comes from a family with arguably an even worse reputation than hers, and maybe that's why they felt so comfortable around each other. There was no fear of judgement or hurt, and they accept one another unconditionally.

Valentine hasn't had the easiest of lives, but that has only molded her into the self-reliant and mature teen that she is. I really enjoyed her character's sense of morality, courage, and determination to find answers. There were times when anyone else would have cracked under the pressure she was under, but it seemed to only harden her resolve. The murder than altered her life is only the first of many, and if she doesn't dig up the truth that has long been buried, she could suffer the same fate as her mother. She comes to realize that the town is loaded with secrets and lies, hidden like a land mine waiting to detonate with one wrong step. The question is...who can she trust? Who will trust her when everyone is prejudiced and quick to point fingers?

A good murder mystery will make you guess and then second guess every character's intentions, looking for a possible sinister motivation. Girl at the Grave accomplished that, and managed to pull the rug out from under me when the big reveal came. I can honestly say that I never could have anticipated how the . There wasn't much angst in the romance department because you pretty much realize from the start who she will end up with, only how it will manage to work itself out. There are huge and seemingly insurmountable roadblocks thrown in their way, and at times I wondered how they would find their happy ending. There was a fear that one or both of them would have to choose between their dreams and being together, but I was very satisfied by how it played out in the final pages.

If you're looking for a good atmospheric historical mystery, look no further. This was a big departure from what I normally read, but in a good way. It was refreshing, well plotted, and really fast paced. I will definitely be seeing what this fresh new author has to offer in the future.

4/5 stars

I found myself to really enjoy this book, despite not being the biggest fan of historical fiction. Despite that, I was actually glued to the book and couldn't stop reading. There was just so much mysery involving all the characters, where you think you understand them, but there's just a shred of doubt in each one. There were some moments that I felt were completely unnecessary or just too long of a scene, like when there's just so much angst or naivety happening where I just audibly say "oh come on". Luckily, there isn't too much of that, so I quickly got over it. I felt the plot was constucted amazingly, and it definitely didn't give itself away too easily. All in all, I thought this was really enjoyable and fun to read. If you're not into historical fiction, I would still give it a try because I was surprised myself at how much I enjoyed it. I feel like this is the type of novel that a lot of people can enjoy without having to be in love with this specific genre. Definitely recommended.

This is my voluntary and honest review. I was provided this ARC by NetGalley for my honest opinion. In no way have I been biased or persuaded in this review.

Review also posted on my blog (www.pinotandpages247.wordpress.com) and my goodreads accounts (https://www.goodreads.com/pinotandpages).

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars for Girl at the Grave. I know I read the synopsis when I requested this book, but when I started reading it I could not have told you what it was about. And I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I really enjoyed this read! It was definitely action-packed, although I did feel a lull in the middle, and there was mystery and a dead body around every corner. I did have some issues with this book though, so let's get down to it:

WHAT I LOVED:
-GREY. So much grey. Pretty much every character in this book has a streak of grey in them. Pretty soon I didn't even know who to trust, or who I wanted to be the good guy or the bad guy.
-So many twists and turns, especially at the beginning and end of the book. The winner of the love triangle is pretty obvious in this story, but the rest of it wasn't. I was trying to guess who killed who throughout this entire book, and I only gained an inkling of suspicion very shortly before the killer(s) were revealed. This plot definitely takes you on a wild ride.
-Really good portrayal of outgrowing your childhood best friend for your first shot at young love. I discuss this a little bit more below, but every bit about this was believable, relatable, and real (even if it was pretty predictable).
-Rowan - SWOON. I loved this character, and he's totally who I would have gone for in high school. That is all.
-Valentine's kindness. I actually really liked Valentine's character (with one exception, explained below). She was well written, and very believable. You were really rooting for her throughout, and her internal struggles of Sam vs. Rowan, instead of being annoying, came across as exactly how every teenage girl spends their high school years. At the heart of Valentine's character is her kindness. Despite the hardships she has endured and the difficulties the rest of the town has put her through, she still has room in her heart to teach a simple homeless woman the alphabet. I loved this about her.

WHAT I DIDN'T:
-This is nothing against the book, I am just not a huge historical fiction fan, and I kind of forgot about that part when I requested this. It's not my thing, but despite that, I did really enjoy this book, which must mean it was good!
-Valentine's naive streak. I mean come on girl, how naive can you get? For someone who has had to be her own caretaker since she was 6 years old, she does not have a lot of common sense. She seems to trust all the wrong people at all the wrong times. Speaking of naive, let's talk about Sam for a minute here. At first I kind of liked him - sweet, loyal, childhood best friend. But then he got super naive, and THEN when Valentine tried to be honest with him, he turned into a jealous jackass. I didn't care for that. Grow a backbone Sam!
-SO. MUCH. DRAMA. This book was kind of like a sandwich. The bread, at the beginning and end of the book, swirled with mystery and murder and everything I wanted from this book. The middle was literally just high school drama, which I did NOT want. So that was a little disappointing to me.

Despite these issues, and despite not being a huge lover of historical fiction, I did enjoy this read! I you love historical fiction and want a couple twists and turns along the way, this book is definitely for you. Be sure to check it out!

Girl at the Grave is released on August 7.

The Girl at the Grave follows Valentine Deluca, a teenage girl who has grown up believing her mother is a murderer. After all, her mother was hanged for it, so clearly she was guilty.

But then some information comes to light that has Valentine questioning everything she believed about her mother and the people around her. As she tries to unravel the mystery, she also finds herself in a love triangle, and one of the boys is directly related to the mystery she's trying to solve.

I liked this book a lot! I enjoy historical fiction, so I always enjoy that aspect. I also think that good, non-paranormal mystery books for YA readers are far and few between (though I love the paranormal ones). I could have done without the love triangle, but I really enjoyed most of the characters on their own, especially Valentine, Rowan, and Mrs. Blackshaw (as a character, not a person, haha).

I definitely recommend this to anyone who likes YA historical mysteries or thinks they would.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!