I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Ravenous Dead is a slow paced ghost story with a mystery interwoven into it. I only realised this was the second book in a series when I was about 25% of the way through the book buy I still enjoyed it. I need to read book 1 now.
Keira has most recently made a home for herself in Blighty next to a graveyard where she can see and communicate with the dead. When she sees a dark malevolent spirit feeding off the ghosts in her graveyard she tries to fight him but ends up hurt. As Keira tries to find out what is keeping this spirit tethered to the earth and finding a way to get rid of him, he grows in force and power and Keira realises they're all in danger - both living and dead. Keira also gets spotted by a group of dangerous people who want to capture her, but she has no knowledge of anything before arriving in Blighty. With the help of her two new friends, Keira tries to save the town, release ghosts from being trapped on earth and unravel the mystery of who this entity is and who these people are that are chasing after her and why.
I can't wait to read more in book 1 and book 3 after reading this!

When i first got this book, i didn't know it was the 2nd in the series and feel like you have to read the first to get it fully, which i did do. The writing and story was fun and kind of spooky which isn't too dark and is a bit light-hearted. I liked Kiera as the main character and i feel like, over the 2 books, the reader's relationship with her really grows. Her sidekicks are interesting but at times they don't really do much for me and I'd much rather see more of Kiera. This isn't the best spooky book out there but it's a fun read.

Another win! I can’t wait until book three within this series comes out! Couldn’t put this one down! I have grown to love that little town and.it’s character’s! Thrilling and fast paced!

*Advanced reader copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley!

The Ravenous Dead is an excellent follow up to the first book in the series, The Whispering Dead. There are plenty of re-caps about what has already happened so far in the series, just in case you need a little bit of a refresher. Make sure to read book 1 first, though, because some of the re-caps are a little bit of a spoiler. That’s not a bad thing, though! The re-cap details really helped me remember all those tiny details. Don’t skip book 1 ALSO because this book takes place almost exactly after the first book ends!

I loved the plot so much. The evil ghost buried in the forest was just a nasty, NASTY shade! It is such an interesting mystery surrounding what is keeping this villainous ghost hanging around for so long. And OMG! Such a glorious twist at the end! 😮 Very Twisty.

The Ravenous Dead is an atmospheric thrill to read. Kept me hooked with suspenseful action and mysteries to unravel. This series is only just getting started. Both books so far have been a creepy delight. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Darcy Coates is an excellent writer. Her dialogue between characters stands out for how realistic it feels. It’s like talking to your very own neighbors and townspeople. The Ravenous Dead is a sequel to The Whispering Dead. And although most of the story is recapped in the second book, I’d still suggest reading them in order to get to know the town of Blighty and it’s interesting characters. I think Coates does a good job with the mystery. I rated this book 3 stars because for me, these books are a bit “campy, cheesy” mysteries. There’s nothing wrong with that but I like my mysteries a bit darker.

🪦 B O O K • R E V I E W 🪦
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Title: The Ravenous Dead
Author: Darcy Coates
Rating: 4.5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (Rounded up to 5 on GoodReads, Amazon and Netgalley)
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Swipe for synopsis.
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This is the second in the Gravekeeper series and it did not disappoint. I really loved how this one jumped right into the ghostly action with Keria using her second eye to try to help the ghosts in the graveyard. I really loved the mystery surrounding the ghost that she felt compelled to help cross over.
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I am really loving ghost stories recently and have been really wanting to read a haunting ghost story. This one is full of eerie and definitely enough scary moments to make my heart race. I definitely think this was the perfect amount of horror for me, because it had the extra suspense of a mystery with it.
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My only reasoning for this to not be a full 5 star read is because I still feel like not enough information was given into the mystery surrounding Keira’s past. There was definitely some information given, but we still have mostly no idea about her past. I’m hoping for more information in the third book!
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This is definitely a quick and easy read, and I definitely recommend it to all horror lovers. The perfect amount of ghost story mixed with mystery. The Ravenous Dead is out now on Kindle Unlimited.
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Huge thank you to @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
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#netgalleyearc #netgalleyreads #thegravekeeperseries #paranormalactivity #ghoststory #mystery #secondeye #thequeenofhorror #theravenousdead #booknumbertwo #fourandahalfstarread #darcycoates

I've liked Darcy Coates for a few years now, and she's made me like the horror/paranormal genre. Obviously, I was excited about The Ravenous Dead since we have a girl that speaks to ghosts, and who doesn't like that? (Ghost Whisperer anyone?) I must admit I didn't realize it was a sequel until I saw it on Goodreads, but it wasn't all that much of a problem. Some of Keira's background is probably explained in book 1 as well as why people are looking for her now, but it didn't bother me not to know. The book mostly focuses on Keira discovering something is eating the ghosts living in her graveyard, so I concentrated on that.

It was a really good plotline. A mysterious ghost shade is forcing other ghosts to hide or be eaten. It's up to Keira to understand what/who the shade is, and how to help it go to the other side. I liked seeing the ghosts' evolution, the way Keira manages to make friends and create strong bonds with her sidekick. It was pretty heartwarming!

It was a great entertaining read that spooks without terrifying readers entirely, which makes it perfect for a larger range of readers. It confirmed my liking of Darcy Coates' writing, and I will likely read more of her work!

I love this author. Every book I have read does not disappoint.
This book is the second in the series and from the way it ended with more questions than answers I’m guessing there will be a book 3.

Keira has been hired to be the new groundskeeper for the graveyard in Blighty. But not any kind of groundskeeper, Keira can see ghosts and she has been employed to clean up the ghosts that linger in the graveyard.
Some of the ghosts have been there a long time and can be hard to see but Keira is determined to help them all.

This is a fun ghost series. If you are looking for this book to scare the living daylights out of you then this is not the book for you.
This is more of a light horror story.

The friendship between Kiera, Zoe and Mason is filled with love and banter that I love reading. Zoe is hilarious with all her conspiracy theories and Mason is sweet and kind but takes no nonsense. I love the friendship that is developing between the 3 of them.

This is a well written book with a great pace. To me this is more of a mystery book with some ghosts thrown in as Kiera has to unravel the ghosts to stories to help them move on.

Keira inadvertently rouses the malevolent ghost of a late 1800s Blighty serial killer, and the shadowy men from her past have resurfaced. And gentle, death metal-loving soul and flower peddler Henry puts in an appearance, too, while Keira and her fast friends Zoe and Mason help her research town history and have her back during this fun second instalment by Darcy Coates.

Keira, now ensconced in the groundskeeper’s cottage near Adage’s home, has plenty to do, between figuring out how to send the serial ghost packing, and keeping safe from whoever tried killing her some days earlier (in book one).

It’s great seeing her take up her ghost-soothing/removing activities in earnest, and opening up to Zoe and Mason. I liked this development a lot, as Darcy Coates won’t have to contrive ridiculous situations and conversations just so Keira can avoid confessing she can see ghosts. This means the dynamic trio can put their energies towards both the ghost activities, and, more importantly, their growing friendship. Which I love. This relationship gave me many smiles—Zoe, of course, stole many a scene with her wild notions, and Mason’s solid, kind presence gives the friends the practical and serious grounding they need.

I suspect they’ll need to rely on each other more as they investigate the shadowy men on Keira’s trail. And I’m sure there will be many more ghosts needing help, too, from Keira, so it’s a pity I have to wait a while for book three.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

So, like a dumb dumb I didn't realize this was a sequel and I had not read the first book. I can say though, that it was still enjoyable! I am definitely going to go back and read the first one now so I can get more backstory.

One thing I can say about Darcy Coates: she knows how to write a spine tingling book! Very real ghosts, very eerie writing, and lots of action. I would say this book has the feel of a YA book, but I don't know if it technically is categorized as one, meaning it is sort of wholesome, except for the creepy as hell parts!

Overall, if you like fast, easy reading, SPOOKY books you will love this one!

The “Ravenous Dead” is a fantastic ghost story, which actually contains real live ghosts! Not live, of course, but who doesn’t absolutely love a book, which describes it as being a ghost story, and to have that description be true to its words. I say that because I crave stories with ‘ghosts’, yet to date, every book I’ve read, which says “ghosts”, “paranormal” and/or “supernatural”, has always been about everything other than real live ghosts, so for that, thank goodness for this author and her talent, because she writes an awesome story and it has many ghosts as a constant presence.

A question ‘so’ many readers ask or wonder; is this able to be reads as a stand alone? I love that I can share that yes! It can be read as a stand alone, however there are elements of this story which would benefit you if you read book one either before or after reading this one. I did not realize this was part of a series so, I bought book one first, but I read this without reading the first book and it reads fine as a stand alone. Now I’ll go back to the first book to catch back stories.

I want to say this is in the middle of a paranormal/supernatural thriller which slightly leans towards a cozy side.

1. Small town
2. Sweet MC
3. Wonderful side kicks to the MC
4. Not gory
5. No worries of cursing
6. No scenes you couldn’t tell mom about, lol
7. It will make you smile and laugh

But don’t let cozy fool you because it’s still very much a creepy spine tingling read with jaw drops and shocking revelations throughout.

What is does have on the dark side:

1. Small town that’s haunted
2. Creepy atmosphere
3. Dark and suspenseful, especially when Keira is out at night doing her thing…..alone…….with ghosts…..and a dark forest is involved
4. An eerie graveyard which is a constant throughout the story
5. It will not fail in giving you ghostly chills

The build up does take a bit, but once you get there the suspense and holding tight to the book/e-reader will begin. That’s the only reason I didn’t give five stars. I wish the serious stuff began sooner in the story.

I’m dying to share quotes I’ve highlighted, but there are too many worthy of sharing and you have to experience that first hand. I wouldn’t want to spoil it for anyone. The best ones came from Keira’s friend Zoe. That girl is a trip I’d want as a best friend.

Then there is Daisy, Keira’s cat, who is pretty much always in the story and Keira’s other best friend Mason is kind of neutral guy, whom is very protective of Keira.

One of many things I loved, is that Darcy Coates makes everyone seem suspicious. The alive and the dead.

I’m thrilled I got to read this ghostly story and I cannot wait for book 3 as well as this author’s other books!! Highly recommend for anyone looking for a spooky story with a unique and fun cast of characters……including the ghosts and this is *not a spoiler* when I say: there will be major jaws drops. I loved it!!

Thank you so much to @NetGalley the publisher @PPPress (a.k.a. Poisoned Pen Press) and the author @darcyauthor for approving my request to read this title for my honest thoughts.

This title has already been released so ~*Congratulations, Darcy Coates*~

I recommend anyone who loves a good ghost story, with small town cozy ghosty vibes, to buy a copy for yourself and gift one forward!!

#BestBooksOf2022 #2022BookReleases #GhostStories #Thriller #Mystery #Suspense #NetGalley #March2022BookRelease buy a copy, spread the word and gift it forward!!

***Review shared to Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and will be posted to Instagram soon***

☽ Fast paced: a lot happens in this book. And it all happens so fast you won’t be able to put it down.
☽ Still too many questions: I had hoped we would get more information about Keira’s past, but the author decided to feed us some crumbs and keep us in the dark. Clever move when writing a series. Though I expect more answers in the third book. I’m not asking for the whole bread, but a slice would be nice.
☽ Darker: in every possible aspect, this book is darker. Even emotionally. We get to know more about Keira’s thought process and feelings, which makes this a more mature read in a sense.
☽ Adrenaline fueled: Darcy’s writing may be simple, but it’s effective. Her action scenes truly come to life and make the reader feel an active part of them.
☽ Slow burn romance: it’s clear a romance will blossom between Keira and one of her friends. Or at least I hope it does. Book 3 better gives us something more than people sitting too close they almost touch.
☽ Same old characters: if you liked the character dynamics in the first book, you’re going to enjoy this even more. The gang is back and they are a formidable group.
☽ Plot twist: I guess every book should have one at certain point. The story in this one seemed pretty straight forward and I didn’t think there would be a twist, so I was as surprised as Keira when she uncovered the mystery ghost’s real identity.

The key word for The Ravenous Dead would be “more”. If you liked book one in this series, you’ll get more of all those things you enjoyed. I knew this sequel would be a good one and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. Now the only downside is the torturous year long wait for The Twisted Dead. Good thing is I got a lot of Darcy Coates’s books to catch up on.

If you like paranormal stories with ghosts, cemeteries and cool heroins, please consider giving the Gravekeeper series a try!

These books aren’t classified as young adult but have a YA feel to them in my opinion. They are short, easy to read, and a good intro to the paranormal / horror genre. The characters are lovable and the plot is entertaining enough. The real mystery of the series still isn’t revealed, so I will be keeping my eye open for book 3 because I need answers! 👀

Darcy Coates's character, Keira, is a complex and engaging narrator. I like reading a mystery/thriller that has elements of humor and Keira's narration provided that for me. I was pleased to discover that each book in this duology can be read as a standalone. However, I would have liked more focus on other mysteries beyond the ghosts. Although I liked Keira as a character, I'm not sure the plot is compelling enough to keep me reading the rest of the series.

The story of the second book Gravekeeper, The Ravenous Dead by Darcy Coates, starts where the first one finished.

Keira lives in a groundskeeper cottage, in the graveyard with her black cat, Daisy. She tries to meet spirits, learns their names, and hopefully understand their situations to help them do their unfinished business on earth and go on.

One day she notices spirits of Blighty Cemetery were avoiding her. They are afraid of something, another ghost that wasn't crying for help, calling for a victim.
Also, there is a hollow-faced man ghost with no name on his grave and Keira tries to find his past.
So there are two new missions, help to hollow-faced man and revengeful ghost. In her research, she faced a name, Gerald Barge (1839-1892) who was a sort of women serial killer. With her best friend's help, try finding ghosty unfinished businesses.
It seems not every ghost wants to complete their task, so there would be a mess that you should read to find out.

If I remember correctly, one of my friends once use a "cozy horror" word, this very suit to this book, plus mysterious and fun. Great read, entertaining story, with lots of Casper types and Peeves types ghosts.
I especially enjoyed the lovely characters and their relationship, they make an awesome gang!
Keira with her lovely cat,
Zoe is my favorite character, funny and I think her mind works ... well, this is, I have no idea how her mind works! :)
Mason, mysterious doctor,
And the new cool member of the gang, Harry!
"Mother: where are you going?
Harry: Occult rituals, Mother. I may not return. Or if I do, I will likely forever be changed.
Mother: Well, all right then, have fun. Curfew’s at ten. Do you want me to make you some hot chocolate for when you get back?
Harry: Yes."

Huge thanks to Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley for giving me a chance of reading The Ravenous Dead (Gravekeeper #2) by Darcy Coates, I have given my honest review.

Darcey Coates is the queen of supernatural thrill rides and this one was one of my favs! Well written, intense, chilling, and scary! Love Ghosty books, look no further, Coates is sure to have something to scare the bejesuz out of you! Highly recommend!

When I requested The Ravenous Dead from NetGalley (and thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it) I didn’t realize it was the second book in a series. That being said I’m more than pleased to say I didn’t have any real problem following the story and was able to enjoy it without having knowledge of the first book, however I do intend to go back and read that first volume: The Whispering Dead.
The story revolves around Keira who is the new groundskeeper at Blightly Graveyard, which seems to be the perfect place for someone who is able to communicate with ghosts. Naturally in such a place there are more than a few restless spirits for Keira to get involved with. This is less of a straight up horror and more of a slightly creepy mystery but enjoyable all the same. Keira is an intersting character and look forward to seeing where her story goes from here.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ravenous-dead-darcy-coates/1139456098?ean=9781728239224&bvnotificationId=1433d80b-a627-11ec-be07-12ce5714dbf3&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/204227365

https://www.amazon.com/review/R3SHQKTEEFSF5J/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

The Ravenous Dead by Darcy Coates is the second book in the gravekeeper series. Not only did it pick up where book 1 left off, but it took off from there!

For those who have been following me for awhile, you know how much I love Darcy Coates. She is a horror author with more than a dozen books out with so many different plots, characters and storylines im always shook when she has a new idea because of how many different plots she’s written.

Back to this specific book. I love horror and this book had me anxious the entire time, in absolutely the best way. I didn’t see the twist at the end coming, and I thought it was brilliant. The plot was paced beautifully where the moments of calm didn’t take away from the action.

I love ghosts, and Darcy has got some truly remarkable ghosts in this story. The characters as I reviewed them last year are still super loveable. Keira, Zoe and Mason are such a well written trio, and Mason getting more depth in this novel was surprising but so nice to see.

This is the second book so far in a series that could continue as long as she would like. I very much so look forward to book 3 next year.

This is book number 2 in this series. We now know that Keira is being hunted after by some organization with a weird symbol. She has really good friends in Zoe, Mason and Adage. She is even beginning to feel at home in Blighty. She has discovered more of her powers and how to help ghosts as well as protect the ghosts from other spirits that have gone feral. Even when she thinks she has found the answer to finding out how to ‘complete’ unfinished business, and things go wrong, she does not stop using her skills. This rag tag group of friends is really growing on this reader and I hope to see more adventures com my way.

The Ravenous Dead by Darcy Coates is a paranormal mystery novel, and the second in the Gravekeeper series.  I wouldn't call it horror.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Keira knows little about her past, but she has discovered she has a talent.  She can talk to ghosts -- and if she discovers why they are still on this plane, she is determined to help them move on.  She has new friends...Adage who is a clergyman,  Zoe who is a conspiracy  theory nut, and Mason, who is supposed to be studying to become a doctor.  She has recently been hired by Adage to be the new groundskeeper at Blighty Graveyard.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Keira is finding that being the groundskeeper at Blighty Cemetery is never boring.  Her ability to see the dead and help them to move on is definitely her life's work.

When she encounters a more malevolent spirit who is actually gaining energy by destroying other ghosts, she is determined to put an end to him.   Unfortunately, that may not be as easy as it sounds.  Although she thought the ghosts could not harm her, she may have been wrong

She will have some unexpected help.


My Opinions:   
I am really enjoying this series.  This second book is another fast and entertaining read.  Although the subject matter is a little dark, it felt like a light read.

I continue to love Keira, who often questions her own judgement, and cares deeply for her friends, as well as the ghosts she is trying to help.

The banter between Keira, Zoe, and Mason is wonderful.  I am not a comedy lover, but there are some really great lines in these books.

Anyway, I can't wait for the next one!