My 8th Generation Kindle, assisted by my Bluetooth speaker or headset, read this book to me in one day…. I literally did not want to put the book down. The first chapter sealed my interest for the entire story, a perfect way to begin an awesome book. The author has such a wonderful story telling ability by taking you from past to present with Tillie and Rachel, I was so taken with both of them, each one struggling and trying to make their lives better, for completely different reasons. I loved the writing style, just enough hints were dropped to keep you wanting to read a little bit more to find the answers. The book does cover the feelings, effects and possible lasting repercussions for a victim of rape.
Since this book is based on the true murder/mystery events surrounding Tillie Smith’s demise, it made it even more entrancing. The story does have a little bit of clairvoyance going on, but by the end, I was feeling it. The last major scene where Rachel follows Tillie’s footsteps on her last night, absolutely fantastic writing!!
I give high 5*****’s and would highly recommend!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Three Women Press, Independent Book Publishers Association through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I love books that link the past and present. The way the author interweaved the two stories so well, left me dying to find out more. I stayed up way too late too many nights reading this book. Very enjoyable!

Not until I as completely done with this book did I realize this book is a recreation of happened to a teenage servant in the late 1800's. I really enjoyed this book, a lot! Reading this brought out so many emotions in me! It takes place in two time periods, modern times and the late 1800's. Adam is a seventh generation cemetery keeper and he is newly married. His wife, Rachel had a traumatic experience 18 years ago when she was 18. She has not been able to heal from this and carries her scars with her to this day. It has affected all of her romantic relationships but she desperately wants this relationship to work out she is newly married and in love with her husband. She sees a monument in the cemetery to Tillie Smith it says, "She died defending her honor" . She feels a kinship to Tillie even though the tragedy happened 130 years ago. Rachel develops and interest/obsession with Tillie and seeks out all the info she can find out about the young woman and her last moments, looking at old news clips and digging up the trial news. I became invested in reading about Tillie's life as she worked at bettering herself by learning to read and moving up in station fraternizing with society girls. Reading the details of her last day of Tillie's life I was holding my breath knowing what was coming and wanting to yell at her and tell her to arrive home just 10 minutes earlier so she wouldn't be locked outside and have the tragedy happen. Oh poor Tillie. My heart weeps for you. Dealing with Tillie's situation helps Rachel heal from her own tragedy and justice is served. Amazing book and would love to read more by this author!
Pub Date 08 May 2018
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book by Three Women Press through NetGalley. Thank you. All expressed opinions are my own.

Clearly this book wasn't for me. I didn't connect with any of the characters. On intellectual level I know I should be sympathetic, but on emotional level their struggles left me completely cold.

At the beginning, the story of Matilda "Tillie" Smith intrigued me. Tillie was a hardworking, poor girl, who was mysteriously murdered in 1886. On her tombstone the local community engraved the following words: “She Died in Defence of Her Honor”, which seemed unusual. I wanted to know her story, but after having read hundreds of pages about it I realise that the case of Tillie's murder would make a great article or a short story. The whole novel dedicated to this topic wasn't able to hold my interest.

In the end, I decided to give this book two stars, because it was well-researched, but I didn't enjoy the story. I think the book would be much better if the author concentrated only on Tillie's murder and lives of her contemporaries. There were too many pages dedicated to Rachel, who after decades undercovers Tillie's story, and her husband Adam. These parts seemed redundant, especially the dialogues between Rachel and Adam, that felt somehow artificial and forced. I wasn't interested in their marital problems. Overall, the premise of this book was intriguing, but the execution felt lacking.

I received "The Cemetery Keeper's Wife" from the publisher via NetGalley. I would like to thank the author and the publisher for providing me with the advance reader copy of the book.

I liked this book. The story was different and to find out that it was based on a true story made it all the better. There was an eeriness thinking Tillie was a ghost showing up in town in different places and the fact that the truth to who killed her was still questionable. Rachel could really feel her presence and it helped her to heal while trying to help Tillie.

This is a story with a promising plot but unfortunately it was not a delightful read. I bailed on this book halfway through for these reasons:

- The plot seemed to be lost, out of focus and I am confused as to what the intention of the author is in this story;
- I do not mind the slow pace but the trite writing was frustrating; felt like the story is getting nowhere;
- No connection with any of the characters. There is not one likeable characters and I find the protagonists, especially Rachel, is too insecure, whiny, needy with so many issues;

***I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Three Women Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All views expressed in this review are my own and was not influenced by the author, publisher or any third party.***

"The Cemetery Keeper’s Wife poignantly blends fact and fiction as two women scarred by shame, and separated by more than a century, reach across time to rewrite history."
Good story with an unusual setting (a cemetary) and McFadden has a very accessible writing style. Switching between time frames and main characters is done well and helps the story flow. I found the Tillie character more likeable than Rachel's and felt it was better developed in explaining her actions and emotions. In general the characters were engaging and the storyline kept my interest throughout.

This book kept me going to find out the mystery. Adam and his wife are newly married. The story jumps from their marriage and trying to over come the hurdles of a new marriage and living and running a cemetery while also trying to uncover the story of Tillie. Tillie was raped and killed years ago. Rachel (Adams wife) is so caught up in tillies mirder that her marriage starts to fail. This book kept my interest and had me wanting more to find out the truth about tillies murder and to see where Rachel and Adams marriage goes. Thanks NetGalley for letting me pre read this copy!!

Following the trend of many new books, the main character is first introduced to us through her husband’s occupation in the title. Instead of the focus being on this smart auctioneer/historian, we are introduced to her as the wife of the Cemetary Keeper. In the beginning, she is just barely that, as they have just been married. She has a secret and so does he. Instead of starting out this new path with a clean slate the author has decided that they should stumble through things trying to hide who they are and yet create a new life together. There seems to be a theme of new beginnings overshadowed by the darkness of hidden secrets of the past. Rachel, our main character, is drawn to a monument that the entire town seems bent on not talking about. Set in New Jersey, this small town full of secrets would not be out of place in the Deep South. Full of secrets and people insisting that “you should let things alone” it is no wonder that our lead is drawn into the history that combines the town’s past, her own, and perhaps even threatens the future she is so carefully trying to create.

Based on a true story, this is an excellent start for author Maryann McFadden to dip her toes into historical fiction. There is less time spent in the historical aspect and more time in the contemporary. While the search for the details of the case seems to be a bit too easy, I can understand how the fiction part of this can lend itself to an easier time. It would be a falt book if Rachel had to stop her search due to a fire or a flooded basement as many historians or genealogy researchers have had to do. This book brings up a lot of things that readers may find hard to read about but giving a voice to many college freshmen who find themselves victims during their first year is refreshing. It is nice to see that the women are seen as victims instead of fallen women. The push for mental health help is also refreshing in historical fiction where often the best path to relief is to seek revenge.

Even though it touches on several sensitive subjects, I would recommend this to readers who love contemporary fiction and are interested in historical fiction. There is very little that readers will need to know ahead of time, and the author does a great job of not only working explanations into the storyline but also showing much of the details.

*This eBook was provided by Three Women Press and NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback*

I enjoyed reading this work of historical fiction revolving around the rape and murder of Tillie Smith in 1886. It was well-researched but told in a fashion that was intriguing and engaging.

This is a memorial book of the murder of Tillie Smith on April 8 1886! McFadden takes a journey reveling the similarities of modern day Rachel Miller with the life struggles of Tillie Smith. Pages immortalize these two women's struggles to overcome events that set in stone their destiny. Loved the portrayal of the peacefulness of the cemetery that Rachel's husband Adam takes care of. In depth characters make this book a must read. The Past does control our future but can also lead to healing in the Present. " A copy of this book was provided by Three Women Press via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."

Thank you to NetGalley and Three Women Press for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. I love true crime and I love historical fiction. I didn't initially realize this was based on a true story. I can see why the author chose this as her subject, for her first historical fiction novel. This story is centered around Tillie Smith, a young domestic, trying to improve her life, but her life ended in rape and murder. This is woven around a new bride, with a history of her own, and her husband, who runs the local cemetery. When I closed the book, I immediately sought out more information on Tillie's history...this, to me, is always the mark of a good historical fiction novel.

Well written book could not put it down the characters were developed dlowly which made the book more interesting could not have forseen the ending.